Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I am not sure that I understand what the Taoiseach is saying. Is he saying he will fire this incompetent, accident-prone Minister of State? Is that what he is telling the House? I am not clear from what the Taoiseach has said what exactly transpired at St. Luke's last Monday morning. What issues were discussed with the Minister of State, Deputy Callely? Is it the case, as it appears to be, that the Taoiseach was satisfied with whatever explanations he gave him in respect of a series of incidents relating to the rate of turnover of staff in his office, the use of a private secretary to take up a politically partisan role, the offer of a car to an employee as an inducement to stay and so on? It appears the Taoiseach was satisfied with those assurances. Do I understand the Taoiseach to say that he has been trying since last night to contact the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, and that he has been unable to do so? Is that what he is telling the House?

Does the Taoiseach recognise the following quotation: "The resignation of the former Minister, Deputy Lowry, in the absence of any proper explanations about personal payments received from Dunnes Stores for work done on his home, was correct and inevitable"? If that was the Taoiseach's view on Deputy Lowry what is the difference in this case where a contractor carried out work in the private home of the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, while he was engaged in a major contract for the State at Dr. Steeven's Hospital? What is the difference of principle involved here? Why are we dragging this out, if the Taoiseach is going to fire him? As the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, said on television on Sunday night he presumed he was safe unless he was involved in another incident? On the face of it this seems such another incident. Is the Taoiseach going to act today or will he drag it out until he sees which way the wind is blowing and ultimately he ends up retiring?

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