Kenny calls on Taoiseach to resign

Enda Kenny, leader of the opposition Fine Gael party, has called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to resign. 

The lackluster Mr Kenny was indeed rejected by the electorate in favor of the popular and capable Mr Ahern.  His party did make significant gains in the election last May, but the popularity and success of the Fianna Fail coalition government rendered their campaign essentially a negative one, and Mr Kenny's rather forced, combative stance comes across as petty and carping. 

Mr Ahern, in his last term as Taoiseach, has faced a series of embarrassing sessions at the Mahon Tribunal, answering questions about unusual lodgments to his bank accounts in the 1990s.  He has explained the sums as loans from friends to help him through his separation from his wife, but at least one such "friend" has claimed that he made a campaign contribution, not a loan.  The implication is that Mr Ahern received undeclared income, and that these payments were possibly bribes.  While the tribunal has no power to indict or convict, an adverse finding against Mr Ahern could tarnish his reputation.  Mr Kenny is attempting to tar Mr Ahern's heir apparent, Mr Cowen, and his cabinet colleagues, with the same brush.  Still, we're not expecting to see Mr Kenny as Taoiseach next time around.