Bertie Ahern's brother, the junior minister Noel Ahern, has said he did not believe the Taoiseach should bring forward his retirement following recent evidence at the Mahon Tribunal.
Noel Ahern also said he wished the tribunal would hurry up and come to its conclusions.
Last week, the tribunal heard that the Taoiseach's secretary, Grainne Carruth, put over £15,000 sterling into bank accounts owned by Bertie Ahern in 1994. Her evidence contradicts that of the Taoiseach.
This afternoon, Noel Ahern said Ms Carruth had been treated in a shabby fashion at the tribunal and he added that he did not think it was fair for any witness to be intimidated or bullied.
He said he was sure there was a very simple excuse or explanation for the contradicting evidence and said it would be difficult for anyone trying to remember lodgement details years later.
He said Bertie Ahern had spent many nights trying to reconcile his finances, and 'if he got it wrong on one occasion, so what?'
He said it was exceptionally difficult for anyone to remember, especially when the lodgements in question were not millions of pounds but up to £4,000, which he said was 'small money, relatively'.
Ahern to respond at tribunal - spokesman
Noel Ahern said the inquiry's Quarryvale module has been turned into the Bertie Ahern module.
Earlier, a Government spokesman said Bertie Ahern would deal with issues raised at the Mahon Tribunal at the tribunal itself.
The spokesman was commenting on newspaper reports that the Taoiseach may respond this week to disclosures relating to sterling lodgements to his accounts that were raised at the tribunal.
The spokesman said Mr Ahern had always maintained he would deal with 'Mahon issues at the Mahon Tribunal, which is the appropriate forum for them, and there is no change in that'.
On RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Fianna Fáil TD and Chairman of the Oireachtas Ethics Committee, Noel O'Flynn, described the treatment of Mr Ahern as trial by media. He said he did not think the Taoiseach should leave office by the summer.
