There seemed to be one law for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and another for the rest of the population in relation to personal taxes, Opposition leader Enda Kenny told a news conference on the plinth at Leinster House yesterday.
However, he refused to respond in kind to Mr Ahern's comment in South Africa that he, Mr Kenny, had told "a barefaced lie" about the Taoiseach's tax affairs in a Fine Gael statement last Saturday.
Mr Kenny said the issue was too serious for "name-calling".
Flanked by members of his frontbench, Mr Kenny stated categorically that Mr Ahern currently owed tax because he had been unable to produce a tax-clearance certificate as required of TDs and Senators at the time of a general election.
"It seems to me as if there is one law for Bertie Ahern and another law for the rest of the people. I find that the range of challenges that our country now faces, socially and economically, are such that the Government should be able to concentrate 100 per cent on dealing with those challenges.
"Unfortunately that is not the case and from that perspective I made the call that the Taoiseach should stand down or tell the entire truth about the equivalent of €300,000 in today's terms moving through personal accounts of his or controlled by him," Mr Kenny said.
Commenting on early reports that Mr Ahern would make no comment whatsoever on his financial affairs during his African trip, Mr Kenny said this, "seemed to be a form of censorship on the press which would be unprecedented".
As for Mr Ahern's allegation that he had told "a barefaced lie", Mr Kenny said: "I have no intention of descending to his level of name-calling.
"This is much too serious a matter, when the Taoiseach of our country is unable to produce a tax-clearance certificate and be compliant with the Revenue Commissioners."
Mr Kenny continued: "The fact of the matter is that had he paid his taxes when they were due, he would not now be in this situation. It is of his own making."
He commented: "For the leader of the country, this is not good."
When asked why Fine Gael had not so far made a complaint against Mr Ahern to the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo), Mr Kenny said: "That is something that Fine Gael may well give consideration to."
Asked if Fine Gael feared that a complaint to Sipo would not be upheld and would therefore rebound on them, Mr Kenny said: "I don't want to comment on that."
He pointed out that: "There are hundreds of thousands of people who go about their daily work around this country who have to produce tax-clearance certificates in order for them to be able to do their work, whether they be taxi-men or plasterers or carpenters or plumbers or self-employed of any description. Why should the law be different for the Taoiseach of the country?"
Asked if he was categorically stating that Mr Ahern currently owed tax, Mr Kenny replied: "Yes, I am."
This was because Mr Ahern was unable to produce a tax- clearance certificate.
He added: "What I can say with certainty is that he has been unable to produce a tax- clearance certificate which is required under the law that he himself introduced."
Asked if he had any further message for Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, whose position has already been highlighted by Fine Gael, Mr Kenny said: "I understand he's in charge of the country now and this is a situation where he appears to want to sit, or is quite prepared to sit, idly by and let this situation obtain. I don't think it's good enough."
He said the Green Party's sole concern seemed to be to look after itself.
