Reliable sources close to Ahern continue to insist that the amounts involved were "significantly under 50,000", despite a newspaper report that the Mahon tribunal has discovered that when Ahern was finance minister in late 1993, he received between 50,000 and 100,000.

The Irish Times yesterday repeated its claim about the size of the payments under investigation. Despite a High Court gagging order on media coverage of private tribunal material, the newspaper said its information had been confirmed separately from the Mahon Tribunal.

Fianna Fail sources, however, insisted the newspaper's figures were incorrect. In an interview with the Sunday Tribune, Ahern said "If you go back to 1977 when I was first elected, right up to this day, the total amount that I would have in all my accounts, or that I got, that was not my own personal income, wouldn't come to those type of figures."

Reliable sources have confirmed that Ahern received money from up to 10 close friends in December 1993 to settle debts relating to his marriage separation. The money was collected by the late Gerry Brennan, Ahern's solicitor at a time when he was in financial difficulties.

"I did get money but I totally complied with tax [obligations], " Ahern confirmed to this newspaper. Some money was later repaid by Ahern unprompted, although several people did not want a repayment. Businessman and longtime friend, David McKenna, gave 2,500.

Both Fine Gael and Labour again yesterday called on the Taoiseach to provide a more detailed statement. There remained considerable unease in Fianna Fail circles last night.

"We are under no illusions that this is over, " one senior source admitted. There is an expectation in government ranks that Ahern may be pressurised into responding to the controversy in more detail.

In a statement issued last evening, the Taoiseach said he could "not disclose or discuss confidential matter relating to the tribunal." He said he had broken no law and had not violated any code of ethics.

"I have never received a bribe in my life. Everybody knows and sees that my lifestyle is as simple as it is honest."

The Taoiseach's press officers last night declined to comment on reports that he has started legal proceedings to prevent the Mahon tribunal seeking details from the Family Courts about his marital separation. This information would be used to check the accuracy of information already provided to the tribunal.

There has been correspondence between the Taoiseach's legal team and the Mahon tribunal since last Thursday's leak. However, the possibility of the tribunal making a public statement seems unlikely. "I don't know who [leaked the information] but I'll tell you one person it wasn't. It wasn't Dave McKenna or his legal representatives, " Ahern said.

The Taoiseach also told the Sunday Tribune the leaks were "orchestrated" to damage him.

"Whoever did this, it was fairly orchestrated. Full marks for that. They got it out and the political parties had their statements after that. A fair good tick-tacking went on, I can tell you, " Ahern said.

Labour's Joan Burton said it would be "helpful" if the Taoiseach provided more information about the money he received. She said that previous controversies involving questionable donations from businessmen to politicians had "poisoned" political life.