Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Even if one were to accept the Minister's original affidavit to the High Court, which he admitted was false, the Minister would still have a serious case to answer because of his false allegations that were published in the Limerick Chronicle - not to mention the even more serious charges which were not published but which he did utter and which were recorded on tape. This was totally inappropriate conduct for any member of the Oireachtas, let alone a Cabinet Minister.

In his so-called personal explanation to the Dáil yesterday, the Minister maintained the charade that the matter was personal. He claimed: "The matter was a personal one between me and a Sinn Féin representative in Limerick." It was as if it was a row between business rivals or a falling out between neighbours. People should examine the Minister's comments last evening. In the same paragraph as that claim, the Minister contradicted himself when he said it was "born out of heated political exchanges". Therefore, the matter was clearly in the political domain.

The Minister, the Taoiseach and the rest are contradicted by the Minister's own mouth in his original affidavit to the High Court, which began:

"I am a sitting Teachta Dála for the constituency of Limerick East and I am also [a] Government Minister. I make this Affidavit from facts within my own knowledge."

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