Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

I have not named anybody or quoted any evidence given to any tribunal. This motion is a rational proposal that would get the support of all democratically elected governments if the case was applicable in their country. Regrettably, it does not have the support of the Government. The response of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to this motion yesterday was hysterical. When his hysteria is tied to the hysterical responses in recent days of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, the reality of the situation becomes clear. This Government is close to the edge.

The standard response of the Government is that it cannot interfere with the work of the tribunals. This motion does not ask for any such interference. It merely asks for a condemnation of those parties that have failed to discipline their members for their collective amnesia regarding moneys received from developers and their agents at the time of widespread rezoning by local authorities. I do not ask the Government to interfere with the workings of the tribunals and, in fact, the original motion makes no mention of tribunals. The persistence of the two parties in Government in hiding behind the tribunals and refusing to condemn the wrongdoing of their members is inexcusable and makes a mockery of their claim to be open, transparent and honest. Their failure to act gives politics a bad name and tarnishes the name of all politicians.

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