Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach is aware that many of those who gave large donations to elected representatives of his party, including Mr. Tom Gilmartin, have stated that they were donations to Fianna Fáil. They also stated that they made that clear to the recipients at the time, including to former Minister, Pádraig Flynn. The Taoiseach told the Dáil in his statement on 27 January 1999 that he had asked the then general secretary of Fianna Fáil, Martin Macken, to write to the then European Commissioner, Pádraig Flynn, asking if he had received £50,000 from Mr. Gilmartin and if it was given to him as a donation to Fianna Fáil, and whether the money was passed on to that party.

I have three questions for the Taoiseach. Will he remind the House if a response to that letter was received from the former Minister and Commissioner, Pádraig Flynn? Did he respond to those specific questions which the Taoiseach had requested Mr. Macken to pose? Was the letter from Mr. Macken the full extent of the investigation into the allegation that the Taoiseach initiated at his own behest? Was it the only investigation undertaken by Fianna Fáil into the alleged donations to the party? What conclusions has he reached as a result of those investigations?

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