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31/01/2008
Taoiseach 'Helped' Casino Promoter's Passport Bid
Bertie Ahern helped a Manchester-based tycoon obtain an Irish passport in 1994, it was claimed last night.
The revelation will reopen earlier controversy surrounding the 1994 casino project promoter Norman Turner and his relationship with the Taoiseach.
Mr Turner, an English-born businessman was involved in the Sonas/Ogden consortium which canvassed hard to build a casino complex in Dublin's Phoenix Park racecourse.
Fine Gael tabled the parliamentary questions that revealed a passport issued to Mr Turner on Tuesday, August 9th, 1994 was "returned through the office of Bertie Ahern TD".
Environment Spokesman Phil Hogan said this "close relationship" with Mr Turner is "completely at odds with the Taoiseach's continuous claim that he opposed the casino project in government and in opposition".
However, in response to the matter a spokesman for Mr Ahern said: "The Taoiseach, in common with many other members of the Oireachtas, facilitated passport applications by people who were legally entitled to hold an Irish passport. This application was no different.
"Norman Turner's mother was born in Cork in 1927, therefore Mr Turner was legally entitled to hold an Irish passport. The suggestion of a sinister and inappropriate motive is wrong and totally mischievous."
He added that all members of the Oireachtas could assist someone to obtain a passport within five days.
At the time Bertie Ahern was Minister for Finance and had political responsibility for the lottery. He has previously refuted claims that he gave implicit approval to the National Lottery to enter talks with Mr Turner about becoming involved in his plans for a casino in Dublin.
The renewed rejection of the claims by Mr Ahern's spokesman conflicted with former National Lottery chairman John Hynes account of things - he said that he would not have entered talks without implicit approval.
The Mahon tribunal also investigated a number of transactions relating to bank accounts operated by, or for, Mr Ahern in 1993 and 1994 when he was Minister for Finance.
The tribunal said the transactions in question are largely undocumented.
(VB)
The revelation will reopen earlier controversy surrounding the 1994 casino project promoter Norman Turner and his relationship with the Taoiseach.
Mr Turner, an English-born businessman was involved in the Sonas/Ogden consortium which canvassed hard to build a casino complex in Dublin's Phoenix Park racecourse.
Fine Gael tabled the parliamentary questions that revealed a passport issued to Mr Turner on Tuesday, August 9th, 1994 was "returned through the office of Bertie Ahern TD".
Environment Spokesman Phil Hogan said this "close relationship" with Mr Turner is "completely at odds with the Taoiseach's continuous claim that he opposed the casino project in government and in opposition".
However, in response to the matter a spokesman for Mr Ahern said: "The Taoiseach, in common with many other members of the Oireachtas, facilitated passport applications by people who were legally entitled to hold an Irish passport. This application was no different.
"Norman Turner's mother was born in Cork in 1927, therefore Mr Turner was legally entitled to hold an Irish passport. The suggestion of a sinister and inappropriate motive is wrong and totally mischievous."
He added that all members of the Oireachtas could assist someone to obtain a passport within five days.
At the time Bertie Ahern was Minister for Finance and had political responsibility for the lottery. He has previously refuted claims that he gave implicit approval to the National Lottery to enter talks with Mr Turner about becoming involved in his plans for a casino in Dublin.
The renewed rejection of the claims by Mr Ahern's spokesman conflicted with former National Lottery chairman John Hynes account of things - he said that he would not have entered talks without implicit approval.
The Mahon tribunal also investigated a number of transactions relating to bank accounts operated by, or for, Mr Ahern in 1993 and 1994 when he was Minister for Finance.
The tribunal said the transactions in question are largely undocumented.
(VB)
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