Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I still cannot understand how any Minister, particularly a senior Minister, could sit at a function and have £8,000 sterling collected around the table, accept it and put his hand on it. The fundamental issue is that the Taoiseach will not accept that action was wrong, that it sends out a signal about politics and politicians in Ireland that is incredible for every young person with an interest, remote or otherwise, in politics. All the Ministers here, including the Progressive Democrats, accept that this is a standard that applies in Irish politics from the head of Government down. That is the difference between the Taoiseach's party and mine. It is wrong and he is afraid to admit it is wrong. The Tánaiste is nodding his head. He knows that to accept £8,000 sterling at a function in Manchester or anywhere else, whether private or public, is utterly wrong and, as Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, he should be man enough to stand up and say so.

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