Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This motion was tabled by my party because we do not have confidence in the Taoiseach. The debate must focus on three themes. The first is standards in public office and the question of whether it is acceptable for a senior politician to accept large sums of money for his private use and the second is whether the Taoiseach has co-operated freely and fully with the Mahon tribunal. The third and most important issue is the question of whether the Taoiseach has been telling the truth to the Irish people, this Dáil and the Mahon tribunal. If the Irish people have a Taoiseach whom they cannot believe, they cannot have trust and confidence in him, or indeed, his Government. This is not a debate about the peace process, the economy, the European Union or any of the many other smokescreens which Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and Progressive Democrats will undoubtedly seek to introduce into the debate.

On 11 February 1992, the day of his resignation as Taoiseach in this Chamber, Charles J. Haughey felt the need to affirm himself. He had, he said, done the State some service.

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