Bertie's Money

**pete** · 24/09/2006, 5:43 PM

Did Bertie receive "donations" or "loans" in the early nighties? Why is he so cagey & protective? Does he have something to hide?

**dahamsta** · 24/09/2006, 5:58 PM

Any links pete? Haven't been following local news.

Gotta say, given Bertie's mentor, I'm constantly surprised dirt hasn't floated up about the guy yet, despite his cute-hooredness.

**pete** · 24/09/2006, 6:18 PM

I have found it difficult to get links but heres one...

**John83** · 24/09/2006, 6:54 PM

Monies given to Taoiseach were repayable [ireland.com]

**beautifulrock** · 24/09/2006, 8:37 PM

a non story, if it is not related to planning applications it cannot be brought into the tribunal. Bertie is credited with getting rid of the brown envelope culture in Irish politics.

**dahamsta** · 24/09/2006, 8:53 PM

You state that as if it's a fact, which is what we deal with in this forum. So: by whom?

adam

**John83** · 24/09/2006, 8:54 PM

I think it's a pretty big story. You don't think it's even a little important that the Taoiseach took money like that? What did he give in return?

Bertie 'getting rid' of the bribe taking was a political necessity, a PR exercise. I have little faith that he'd have done it if all those high profile cases hadn't hurt FF.

**soccerc** · 24/09/2006, 8:57 PM

Originally Posted by beautifulrock

a non story, if it is not related to planning applications it cannot be brought into the tribunal. Bertie is credited with getting rid of the brown envelope culture in Irish politics.

Not true, here are the terms of reference as amended in 2004

http://www.flood-tribunal.ie/asp/Det...0&RecordID=357

**Dr.Nightdub** · 24/09/2006, 9:02 PM

"From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs".

Maybe Bertie has been a socialist for longer than we imagined.

**Macy** · 25/09/2006, 7:40 AM

Anyone see his denials? Very Haughey/ Flynn/ Burke/ Lawlor-esque.

It was gifts he recieved from business men while Minister of Finance. Yes he does have questions to answer. What will come of it is a different matter, seeing as he's got away with stuff like signing blank cheques for Haughey without censure.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 25/09/2006, 9:26 AM

Originally Posted by Dr.Nightdub

"From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs".

Maybe Bertie has been a socialist for longer than we imagined.

...or maybe it's FF clientist speak which translates into "you gets what you pays for"

I thought Pat Rabbitte may have been onto something this morning when he said he suspects this was leaked by one of the people who's being investigated rather than by someone at the heart of a sculduggerous plot to bring down the government.

It now appears there's up to a dozen names involved rather than the three or four first mooted.

**pete** · 25/09/2006, 10:03 AM

I've always been surprised by the manner Bertie has kept his image so clean dispite being surrounded by corruption in the 80s. I think he got away far too easily with the blank cheques matter.

Love the way bribes are renamed "indefinite loans". Ah sure he was only giving me a loan that no onus on me to repay..."

**rebs23** · 25/09/2006, 10:22 AM

"The most cunning, most devious of them all" - Haughey on Bertie.
Bertie just had to be up to his neck in it. They don't call him the Teflan Taoiseach for nothing. Nothing has been able to stick to him, but this time it looks like he has been caught out.
Payments for what Bertie??? Signing blank cheques for Haughey, reappointing Ray Burke to the cabinet. Will someone please pin something on Bertie so we don't have to listen to his inane dribble for another five years.

**Dodge** · 25/09/2006, 10:23 AM

Agree with macy re the denials. A bit too "nothing happened, nothing to explain, move along now..."

**Lim till i die** · 25/09/2006, 12:20 PM

Notice how far the PD's have fallen aswell since the days of Dessie O'Malley.

Deafening silence from those single party government corruption trouble-shooters

**pineapple stu** · 25/09/2006, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

Anyone see his denials? Very Haughey/ Flynn/ Burke/ Lawlor-esque.

One of the rags (the Mirror, I think) had the story on the front page last Friday or Saturday, with Ahern saying (and I paraphrase as I don't have the quote to hand) the money wasn't important, but that the person who had told about the story was a filthy sneak. Now it's quite possible the rag was tinkering with the words to suit its own ends, but it's a remarkable quote nonetheless.

**cheifo** · 25/09/2006, 12:57 PM

If its harmless but embarrassing then he had better just come out with it.It is not going to go away.I remember an interview with Albert Reynolds saying that its the things you dont see coming that will take you down in politics.

**pete** · 25/09/2006, 4:05 PM

Bertie refuses to answer questions...

What possible reason could he have for refusing the questions? Is he keeping quiet trying to see if will go away.

Honestly i can't see this one going away quietly. The opposition & the media will just keep asking for clarifications...

**dahamsta** · 25/09/2006, 5:22 PM

I'd imagine he's stalling for time so he and his handlers can come up with a strategy. Whatever you think about Bertie, he's no numbskull. It has to be said though, the best way to deal with accusations like this is to refute them with an iron fist as quickly as possible, otherwise the problem festers like a nasty boil. Makes you think when he's not in a position to do that. Probably looking for ways to deflect it elsewhere.

I imagine something fascinating and extremely controversial will find it's way to the media in the next few days.

adam