Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach has not answered the two questions I asked him. Will he explain the criteria he applied in re-admitting Deputy Cooper-Flynn to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party? The Deputy is being singled out for exceptional media treatment for her work as a financial adviser at that time. Am I to take it that the Taoiseach's re-admission of the Deputy to the party was on the basis of an appeal to the Supreme Court?

Is it the Taoiseach's intention to sue the newspaper involved to protect his integrity not just as a citizen and as a public representative but as the Head of a Government which holds the Presidency of the European Union? Arising from that, will the Taoiseach explain to the Dáil the statement of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the media over the weekend to the effect that he had been aware of the serious allegations against the Flynn family for some time? How did this information come into his possession? Did he carry out an independent investigation? Did he discuss this with the Tánaiste or the Taoiseach? How long has the Taoiseach been aware of these allegations? If he is and has been aware of them, what does he propose to do about them?

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