Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I ask Deputies to listen. In such cases, I make an announcement for the information of the House. I announced this morning that I accepted the resignation from office of the Minister of State, Deputy Callely. He tendered his resignation as Minister of State in writing and I accepted it. He did so, according to his letter, in the public interest in view of the fact that the ongoing controversies made it impossible for him to carry out his ministerial duties effectively and productively. In a statement I issued to the public an hour and 40 minutes ago——

See this speech in context