The Fianna Fail leader attempted to provide clarification last autumn. But from what is now known, and what is published in this newspaper today, a much more extensive exercise in truth-telling is required.

The taoiseach's much anticipated statement this week will, however, have to be set against the backdrop of imminent Mahon tribunal hearings. Regardless of the outcome of the 24 May general election it is only fair to conclude that Ahern's political future looks very uncertain. The final days of the Haughey era in Irish politics may be coming to a close.

Last Friday's opinion poll in The Irish Times shows everyone who has said nothing and wanted to know less to be a winner. Ahern's popularity is up while Enda Kenny's and Pat Rabbitte's public standing improved.

The slim 2% gap that now separates the present coalition and the alternative alliance of Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens is making the election an unpredictable fight to the finish.

The only losers from this re-run of Bertiegate, it seems, are the two smaller parties, the PDs and the Greens, whose leaders put their heads over the parapet and repeated their view that Ahern "had issues" to explain.

Contradictorily, it's quite clear from the same poll that three out of four people (72%) believe Ahern has more questions to answer and that half the voters feel his receipt of �30,000 sterling in cash from business friend Micheal Wall when he was minister for finance is a serious issue.

Most of those who want the taoiseach to explain his financial past are Fine Gael and Labour supporters. Yet both Rabbitte and Kenny are adamant that the financial probity of the taoiseach 13 years ago is not a serious enough issue to jeopardise even one percentage point in the polls.

Fianna Fail ministers have predictably tried to steamroll questions about Ahern with accusations of media plots and dirty tricks designed to blacken their leader's name, undermining his very real achievements being celebrated in Northern Ireland last week. Where, the voter might well ask, is political credibility in all this? Where is political principle?

Today, we publish the transcript of the interviews the taoiseach gave to lawyers from the Mahon tribunal. After reading these transcripts, PD leader Michael McDowell last weekend seriously debated pulling out of government. This information . . . and all the questions that arise . . . is why the tanaiste has still not said that he has confidence in the taoiseach.

We are publishing the exchanges between Ahern and tribunal lawyer Des O'Neill because people have a right to know about these issues before they cast their votes.

The transcripts are full of inconsistencies, bizarre financial transactions and attempts to fudge the sources of very large amounts of cash. They show clearly that, in his TV interview last year and in his subsequent statement to the Dail, Ahern has been, to put it politely, economical with the truth.

Bertie Ahern has said he will make a statement before polling day about the financial dealings involving the purchase of his house.

This is not enough. He must give a full . . . and, it has to be said, coherent . . . explanation of all the issues raised by the tribunal lawyers.

While Ahern is being judged on his answers to questions about his financial dealings, the opposition is being judged on its response. Polls do not tell the whole story.

This is not a game. It is about the quality of the political leadership of this country.