Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

There seems to have been a measure of witchcraft over the weekend. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste claimed they have drawn a line in the sand. Have they done so? When will we obtain answers to the outstanding questions? The Tánaiste stated in black and white he wanted to know the identity of the donors, the mysterious money men at Manchester. He stated he wanted to know the nature of the function.

The Taoiseach told us it was an organised function, that he made a speech and that they were his friends. He then told us it was not an organised function, he did not make a speech and he does not know who was present, apart from two people. He told the authors of a book that he bought his house for £139,000 and he told the House it cost £180,000. Did the Taoiseach have the particulars delivered to the Revenue Commissioners as he is required to do?

Will the Taoiseach explain to the House why he volunteered the information that he had paid gift tax and capital gains tax? Nobody asked him whether he did, but he stated he did. Why and on what did he pay gift tax? Will we receive answers to these questions or must we await the Taoiseach's appearance before the tribunal before we have any coherent statement which will bring this to an end? How can the Tánaiste sit there having conferred approval on this activity, as compared to his statements and sentiments expressed in the past?

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