The Commitments
Mr O’Neill said he appreciated that in August 1994 Mr Ahern had lodged £20,000 to an account for his daughters but the previous December he had £50,000 available to him.“You are not listening to me,” the Taoiseach replied testily and went on to repeat that the £20,000 was already a commitment to his daughters’ education.
“When you have a commitment to something, at least the way I operate, I go before the electorate on commitments. I had a commitment to my wife and daughters to put £20,000 into an account. It was not available to me.
“I had it designated and linked in a commitment to give to my daughters,” Mr Ahern continued.
“I had saved it since 1987 through the whole period of my separation which, I think, is none of your damn business.”
In a wide-ranging speech on future economic policy in Dublin, Mr Cowen said he had all but ruled out any prospect of fulfilling his promise in last year’s Budget to cut the top rate of income tax to 40pc.
Mr Cowen’s speech drew a rapid reaction from Labour’s finance spokesperson Joan Burton, who said Fianna Fail was getting rid of its general election promises.
“Mr Cowen’s speech today is very different from the message the people were given by the Taoiseach, the minister himself and other Fianna Fail figures prior to the election.
“It appears as if the ground is now being prepared for wholesale reneging on Fianna Fail’s pre-election promises,” Ms Burton said.
Mark Waters marked time at 11:34 am on December 21st, 2007 .
