Ahern 'could announce departure'

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Bertie Ahern is to make a statement in Dublin soon, in which it is expected he may give a date for his resignation as taoiseach.

Later, he is to face questioning in the DÃ¡il over what the Opposition claims are inconsistencies in his evidence to the Mahon Tribunal.

Last week his coalition partners suggested he needed to quell public disquiet on the issue.

Mr Ahern, 56, has been taoiseach since 1997 and a TD for over 30 years.