Bertie Ahern was Minister for Finance.
Des Richardson did consultancy work for Rohan Holdings.
Des paid Bertie large amounts of cash, supposedly contributed by his friends.
Bertie changed the tax law, to the sole benefit of Rohan.
Rohan got back 2 million in tax.
Rohan paid Des a million.
One donor says he’s not a friend and that his company paid [...]

Well, Bertie is finally going before the Tribunal to explain how he was given a pile of money and a house by his builder friends while he was Minister for Finance, and how there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a finance minister receiving huge financial gifts from property developers.
 
I was just trawling through the back catalogue [...]

I didn’t get a chance to read the papers closely today, due (as you know) to my intensive engagement with shovelling tons of rubble and building stone walls.
Hmmm.
One piece of advice for you: don’t ever do this. Ever. Got that? Never.
Anyway, as I said, I only had a chance to scan the [...]

I was sitting down tonight with a former secret policeman, savouring a quiet pint and enjoying his stories of beating confessions from suspects when he made an observation that, I have to confess, I’d overlooked.
This Vincent Browne thing, he remarked.
What?
The way his show was axed.
Indeed, I interjected. I love the Vincent Browne show.
And it’s [...]

I’m glad this is nearly over. I’m so glad, I’ve even stopped kicking my dog and making disparaging remarks about tinkers Travellers.
This stupid election has turned me into a different person, and indeed, a person I’m not at all sure I like.
Sarcastic. Aggressive. Loud. Excitable. Overbearing. Pessimistic. [...]

Do you know something?
It’s true.
In spite of all I’ve said about Bertie Ahern, the fact remains that he was the one who finally delivered the agreement on the North. He was the one who established a personal chemistry with Tony Blair (though God knows how) and in the end he was the one [...]