Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Does the Taoiseach stand over the remarks he made about the shelf company on 26 March 2002, that despite being a shelf company, it was a company not only of substance but of international standing? It was criticised in the High Court yesterday when Mr. Justice Kelly queried the reason a company worth €127 should be given a 30 year lease on an asset worth €62 million. Does the Taoiseach now stand over that statement? Has the company lived up to his expectations? Will he stand over the arrangements whereby the Government entered into an agreement with the company which was sharply criticised in the High Court?

I was in the Mansion House last night to welcome the new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Catherine Byrne. In the middle of all the pomp and power, I noticed the coat of arms of the Ahern family whose motto reads——

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