Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

The Taoiseach knew but he said nothing because if he had, he would have gotten the Fianna Fáil equivalent of the concrete shoes, feeding with the small fishes on the back benches and he would not jeopardise his career by taking a moral stand. He knew and they knew that he knew. That is why to this day he is reticent to attack those found guilty of corruption and that is why he had to appoint Mr. Burke in 1997.

The Taoiseach's alleged investigation of Mr. Burke before appointing him was a sham. He has a method of contriving to look in places where he knows there are no answers to the questions. He had his head stuck in the fragrant trees of north Dublin when he should have been lifting the manhole covers from which the real odour was coming. However, he decided to look in the wrong place so he would not get the answers.

Mr. Burke lied when availing of the tax amnesty in 1993. The Taoiseach introduced it and crooks and gangsters availed of it to launder their ill-gotten gains but they only declared a little of those gains, as did Mr. Burke. Is it not time to reopen that file, publish the names and let the people know exactly what went on? Finally, Mr. Burke, as Minister for Communications in 1987, handed over our natural resources and our fabulous oil and gas wells to multinational companies with an unprecedented deal of no royalties and no State stake. In view of him being paid left, right and centre for other favours by land rezoners and the rest, are we not right to be completely suspicious of that deal? Will the Taoiseach now order a re-examination of those terms? Will he refer the issue to the Mahon tribunal or another investigation and take back for the people the wealth that was given away by somebody who has now been convicted of corruption?

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