Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Minister's head is full of nonsense. My colleagues and I will face the Minister in every electoral contest armed only with whatever skills we have been born with and whatever funding we can raise legitimately, such as I have depended on in every election I have contested, during which I have faced all of the different voices in this House. To promote or perpetuate the notion that the opposite is true is completely false and subverts democracy. It is time for the Minister to face the fact that there is a changed political dispensation on this island, one which he must face on a fair and level playing field, as we must.

Given the Minister's antipathy to the political beliefs I hold, what were the other motives behind his decision? Were there concerns regarding the Centre for Public Inquiry? Did he or those around him have concerns about matters relating to Shell Oil, the Corrib gas pipeline or links to political figures with views and aspirations akin to the Minister's? The Minister was asked earlier where he received the documentation that he circulated in the House today. How did he come by it? Did he deliver the documentation directly to the journalist in question or did he use a conduit? Where did the transfer of documentation take place? What exactly did the Minister do in this little exercise of subterfuge, which he has clearly enjoyed?

How many times has the Minister facilitated requests from the media and abused his position as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform? The question only relates to his ministerial tenure. Has he provided documentation, confirmation or other information pertaining to citizens or any other group to members of the media? I am aware that posing the question in this fashion probably lets the Minister off the hook. Other Deputies in this House believe that he should not have passed on such information. How many times has he provided information to members of the press in the same way as he has exercised and abused his position with regard to Mr. Connolly and the Centre for Public Inquiry? Who were the people concerned? Is he prepared to guarantee that information received by him with regard to telephone tapping has not been provided to members of the press or will not be provided in the future?

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