Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Oireachtas must conduct its own examination. There are legal issues involved and the Deputy will appreciate that, in my position, I have heard of some of the issues but am precluded from referring to them. The Deputy is correct that I was asked about these issues, but I refused to give the evidence to my party or to the media. If I were to be asked as a lay person whether substantial evidence that is available but ruled inadmissible because of the date of a warrant should be used in making a decision, while I must refer to the legal advice, as a lay person, it is not an unreasonable position. I have no doubt that great legal minds will argue out that issue. If there are issues of substance, it is for the House to examine those.

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