Ahern's hopes of re-election hit by row over £30,000 gift

The Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern is having a near-nightmarish start in his general election campaign to win a third term, as concerns involving his finances cast a shadow over other issues.

Unresolved matters of financial contributions have knocked him off his stride as a naturally-gifted street campaigner, with seasoned reporters who follow him saying he looks rattled.

This is particularly worrying for his Fianna Fail party, which has been in power for ten years, since he is its prime asset, with high opinion poll ratings regularly outstripping those of the party itself.

His legendary electoral dashes around Ireland are regarded as invaluable vote-getting exercises since he is known for his ability to connect with voters in just a few minutes.

But so far he has been unable to leave his financial difficulties to the side. The Irish Independent reported: "The Taoiseach's customary energy was present alright but the 100-watt smile and the effervescence that usually acts as a people magnet seemed somewhat lacking. The money cloud was still hanging over his head and rumbling on like a bad case of thunder."

To add to his woes, his party had already been slipping in the polls after a long spell in front of its rivals. In a matter of a few months it has gone from a position of some confidence to looking like a party with its back against the wall.

He yesterday launched a party manifesto which included significant tax cuts and concessions, a tactic which rival parties have already been deploying heavily. But although he sought to use the occasion to put money matters behind him, he faced persistent questioning on the issue.

The money question centres on £30,000 which a Manchester businessman reportedly gave to Mr Ahern's then partner, Celia Larkin, in 1994. This transaction was not clarified during previous questioning about his finances.

On that occasion, last autumn, Mr Ahern maintained that he had made a full disclosure to an investigative tribunal, saying on television: "I don't want anyone saying I didn't give the full picture." The emergence of the new issue came at the worst political moment for Mr Ahern, right on the eve of the election campaign. The tribunal looking into the matter has decided to postpone hearings until after the election, which has left the matter hanging.

Opposition parties have mostly commented on the affair only sparingly, with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny describing the affair as "bizarre" but largely leaving it at that.

The opposition attacks on Mr Ahern last September rebounded, with opinion polls at that point showing a decline in support for them and an increase in support for Mr Ahern, which was taken to indicate widespread sympathy.

At yesterday's manifesto launch, Mr Ahern said: "This has nothing to do with the tribunal. I allocated my money for uses and I'm entitled to do that. I earned the money. Are you questioning that I shouldn't be allowed to use money?"

While voters and the public in general have a great liking for Mr Ahern, the history of his party is littered with examples of corruption, especially under Charles Haughey.

Although the tribunal will not resume hearings until after the election, it may become snarled up in the political processes. The results are expected to lead to some weeks of horse-trading since no party will have an overall majority.

If damaging evidence emerges against Mr Ahern then other parties may be reluctant to go into a coalition government with him.