The infamous interview that Senator Eoghan Harris gave on the Last Word on Wednesday when Bertie fell on his sword – and Harris’s spat with Michael Clifford.

(I’ve also learnt how to cut and edit audio files tonight with some freeware – it was too big to upload in one go so I got the best bits into two files – I’ll be a podcaster yet!)

Senator Eoghan Harris in grief mode with a swing at the nasty bloggers.

Or click this or here to download.

And then Matt Cooper introduced Michael Clifford of the Sunday Tribune into the conversation and the sparks began to fly!

or click this or here to download.

And while we’re pondering Eoghan Harris and the planet he resides on – go read World By Storm’s excellent dissection of his utterings in Hot Press.

PS: I’m not sure about WordPress 2.5 and audio files and whether these will stay live for long – so if they don’t work for you please leave a comment and I’ll tend to them!

‘Minister McGuinness told Lunchtime with Eamon Keane on Newstalk 106-108fm that he didn’t think Bertie Ahern’s interview with RTE’s 6.01 News was beneficial:

“The case was presented. Maybe that’s part of the difficulty that we’re now experiencing because people are measuring what’s being said against that particular public appeal or public statement. I think they are taking that measurement, those that are interested, those that are still engaged with the Tribunal are perhaps looking at it, and measuring against that public statement. And that’s what’s causing concern and confusion for others, and sadness for more people, so there’s a whole mixture of emotions in there.�

Eamon Keane then asked Minister McGuinness if the RTE interview was a mistake:

“Given the amount of information that has emerged from the Tribunal since then, it was perhaps better if all of that had emerged, or been allowed to emerge without any intervention. It’s always a judgement call to as to whether you’ll do something at the beginning, the middle or the end of a contribution to a court case or a Tribunal, and sometimes you’re better to hold your peace and to say nothing, and maybe that might have been a better course to take in this instance. But what’s done is done and there’s nothing you can say about that.�

Minister McGuinness also outlined the damage the Tribunal evidence is having on the public as well as Fianna Fail:

“There is now doubt that it is having an effect on the party. No political party would like to see its leader pulled around like this, in these sorts of circumstances. There is no doubt about that. Publicly, I suppose people are concerned about the Tribunal and what’s happening there. And it’s up to the Taoiseach to convince them otherwise… It’s hard for me on a personal basis to see him in that difficulty or to see that evidence being given because of all the questions it brings up.�

“…A lot of women who leave jobs for marriage and for children do not really recollect instantly what happened 13 years ago, 13 years ago…. Certainly I don’t have that kind of memory. She [Ms. Carruth] rings true when she doesn’t remember that far back, 13 years, 3 children in between, a marriage with all it’s ups and downs….”

All the women who have appeared before the Tribunal have suffered it’s mysogyny he continued. It seems it also failed to take into account that marriage, childbirth or being the life partner in Celia Larkin’s case, could have on women’s memories.

He’s obviously still failing to see ‘Where’s the corruption in all this’….

Meanwhile Gavin flags up Law and Order – Mahon Tribunal Unit. Ah but where is Mariska Hargitay!!!

And then there’s Grainne Carruth – whom I never heard about until today – and who will be someone we’ll be hearing a lot more about tomorrow.

The violence/post Paddy’s Day clean up/priest dodging tax court case means that people will have missed what happened at the Mahon Tribunal at Dublin Castle today. Never fear the marvelous Gavin is on the ball.

Please let someone reenact this tomorrow pretty please!!! I’m feeling a bit sorry for Ms. Carruth. She only did the lodging and now she has to do some remembering. Previous to this she was the person cashing Bertie’s pay cheques and leaving the money in the drawer.

And can we be assured that whatever happens in the tribunal tomorrow will be properly reported on tomorrow evening? The full transcript of todays proceedings is here.

I’m no Mahon expert – but I want to know why there is so much sterling going into the B/T account – in cash! And how did it get into the country?? Tim Collins did the lodging there – where did he get that money?

Then there’s the sterling going into Bertie’s personal account, Cecelia’s and Georgina’s account – and the woman that did the lodging didn’t remember and in fact said she didn’t until the Tribunal showed her the paperwork saying she had.

Any ministers back in the country yet??

Click here - (glitch on IE seemingly at moment!)

Ah our own Yes we can – it’s called Did I say that? - and it’s a good one. Dermod Carmody, Joe Taylor and others appear to be involved! More please!

It’s intriguing me something rotten now – we know it stood for something else…but what??

Your efforts in the comments….

Trials and tribulations

The Taoiseach would have the public believe he is anxious to answer all and every question from the Mahon tribunal concerning his unorthodox financial affairs while minister for finance, as well as deal comprehensively with a series of statements he made publicly and in the Dáil on these matters. Does he take us for complete fools? The latest High Court action launched by Mr Ahern has been specifically designed to prevent tribunal lawyers asking him awkward or damaging questions.

It is a shabby and demeaning business. It puts further strain on the growing credibility problem the Taoiseach has with a bemused electorate. And it poses risks to the authority of Government. The High Court challenge would appear, at least in part, to be a time-buying exercise designed to spin out and neutralise the effects of a robust investigation into the Taoiseach’s extraordinary financial dealings. If a judgment is appealed to the Supreme Court, the work of the tribunal could be delayed by at least six months and probably longer.

Just two weeks ago, under pressure from Opposition parties, the Coalition Government voted confidence in the work of the Mahon tribunal; noted its rising costs and extensive agenda, and urged it to complete its work expeditiously so that the Dáil could debate its conclusions. That formal position flies in the face of the extra costs and delays that are now likely to transpire because of the Taoiseach’s actions. Was the Cabinet informed of this imminent court challenge?

In 2006, the Mahon tribunal drew the Taoiseach’s attention to what it believed were factually erroneous statements made by him to the Dáil and elsewhere on payments into his accounts. And it signalled a desire to examine in detail two specific payments that may have involved $45,000 and £25,000 sterling. Mr Ahern is disputing the contentions of the tribunal in these matters and, in heated evidence given before Christmas, he accused its lawyers of “trying to stitch him up”.

The Taoiseach’s explanations of his financial dealings have been contradictory and, at times, partial. He has adopted a strategy designed to confuse and obfuscate. It is the clear duty of the tribunal, appointed by the Oireachtas to investigate planning matters involving some of its own members, to follow the money trail. Dáil privilege was hardly designed to prevent a review of his public explanations, but Mr Ahern could still win the case. The High Court challenge has been justified on the grounds that legal advice made it impossible for him to do otherwise. That is self-serving cant. Legal advice is simply that – advice – and it can be accepted or rejected.

A similarly legalistic approach was adopted by Cardinal Connell when opposing the release of contentious sexual abuse files from the Dublin archdiocese. But he was prevailed upon to change his mind in the interest of the greater good. The Taoiseach would do politics a service by following that example. The sooner these issues are disposed of, the better.

Green Ink hit’s nail on head (Again!!!!!)

The letters between the Solicitor to the Tribunal and Bertie Ahern‘s solicitors were read out on the Lunchtime show on Newstalk today. They helpfully include some of the Dáil interventions that our Taoiseach is trying to protect being questioned further on and your bonus track is an interview with Enda! It’s a pity that they don’t give the listeners a bluffers guide – and they spent a lot of time reading solicitors letters without a lot of interpretation. I’m sure that bloggers will help??

You can listen to them here.

I hope they (the letters) are in print form shortly also as it will help a lot when committed to print! Update: Michael at That’s Ireland has very helpfully given us a flowchart!