Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The tribunals have full responsibility and powers to find out about all these issues and, in so far as I can see and hear, I am sure they are in the process of uncovering them. As to when I first knew about these issues, I was made aware of them some years ago when it was stated that Mr. Gilmartin put it on the public record that he had given Pádraig Flynn resources. The matter has been subject to investigation since. We know a lot about this cheque now, but it is subject to dispute. It was not made out to Fianna Fáil. This cheque was made out to cash and these issues are now subject to investigation. Whether the account was a bogus account in the Isle of Man, Jersey or anywhere else, I do not know. That is a matter for the tribunal.

The Minister for Justice, Equality, and Law Reform and other people have said that they have had concerns about these issues since they have been in the public domain for the past five years. Everybody had concerns about them. The tribunal has to find out the facts and that is being undertaken. Deputy Rabbitte asked if Fianna Fáil endeavoured to get the money back. Yes, the general secretary of Fianna Fáil wrote in 1998 to find out the full facts. No replies were given to that. I subsequently put that letter on the record of the House in its complete form over five years ago and sent that to the tribunal. The Fianna Fáil position, not that I am answerable to this House for the Fianna Fáil position but I am anxious to answer this, is that, with any of these moneys, in accordance with legal advice, whatever action is deemed necessary will be taken, based on the findings and recommendations of the inquiries.

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