Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

That is a system they were silent about for decades and while ordinary working class people were pushed out and could not afford justice, the lawyers were rolling in it from those who could afford to pay them, such as the big corporations, etc. When they saw an opportunity where the taxpayer would foot the bill, it was nirvana.

For years, the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have refused to lift a finger in opposition to that system. We now have, in the most cynical, political and opportunistic way, the Tánaiste raising this issue for his own reasons. It was as if his party was not in Government for the past ten years. It is similar to the crime issue, where the Tánaiste is adopting the Taoiseach's methodology of pretending to be in Opposition when his party is in reality in Government.

We should get real on the issue. These investigations have shown up the corrupt underbelly that existed with planning in this country and the interface between politics and business in this country, which was rotten to the core and which needed to be brought out and exorcised. Such circumstances can never again occur.

It is not a question of shutting the tribunals down but bringing them to a conclusion where the full truth will out, no matter whom that affects or embarrasses. It can be done and, if necessary, we should bring in levels of remuneration for those involved that will allow the process to continue at a reasonable cost.

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