The Mahon Tribunal will be published today. Is Bertie ready for the fallout?

Are you ready for the Mahon Tribunal? Yes, it’s been a long, long time coming but finally some light will be shed on allegations of planning corruption and secret payments during the Celtic Tiger years.

The Irish Daily Star reports that after 15 long years of investigation, the Mahon Tribunal report will be published at approximately 10am. We imagine there’s a lot of property developers and a very prominent ex-Taoiseach seriously bracing themselves this morning.

With costs estimated to be in the range of €300million, the expose, put together by Judge Alan Mahon, will be sent to the Dáil before it is published online for everyone to see.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin will surely face the toughest week of his life as the fallout from the report is expected to focus heavily on allegations that former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was paid off by property developers in a series of brown-envelope-type deals.

Mr Ahern appeared in front of the public inquiry a grand total of 15 times, and during that period he has always denied taking money in exchange for political favours. That being said, the former Taoiseach’s unusual financial affairs eventually contributed to his resignation from office in 2008.

The Irish Independent reports that Micheal Martin is already preparing himself to deal with the potential public backlash that will come from the publication of the report. He has plans to call in legal and political advisers later today to help him examine just what exactly the Tribunal has said about Mr Ahern’s evidence.

He is then expected to make a detailed response about Fianna Fail’s stance on the report tomorrow.

“The response will not be immediate but it will be timely,” said a source from the party.

Sources within Fianna Fail have told the Irish Independent that the report would have some strong “ramifications” for the party.

“In the event of the tribunal coming down heavy on any of our members, if they don’t resign voluntarily they will be told to resign or be removed from the party,” said another source.

Speaking at the Fianna Fail ard fheis earlier this year, Micheal Martin said that Fianna Fail would never be let down by “low standards” again.

“When the final report of the Mahon Tribunal is published we will act without fear or favour against anyone who is shown to have abused their position in Fianna Fail or in elected office. Action will be swift and comprehensive,” he said.

Roll on 10.30am…