Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Is it not interesting that the Progressive Democrats were not present the first time around and that they are absent again today? At least we have this opportunity to table questions in respect of costs and the actions that may arise on foot of the tribunal's report. Is the Taoiseach aware of the nature of such actions being requested by the Irish branch of Transparency International as a result of the publication of the Moriarty tribunal's report? It called for additional powers for the Standards in Public Office Commission and for full disclosure of financial accounts by political parties, not just for the three weeks leading up to an election but for the period between one election day and the next. If we are to obtain value for money, does the Taoiseach acknowledge that the actions which arise on foot of the report must be taken? Will he indicate the stage the Government has reached in the implementation of such actions?

Is it possible for the Taoiseach to indicate — this would also impact on the actions to which I refer and it may have allowed us to avoid spending over €27 million on the report in the first instance — what would have been the position if he had refused to sign blank cheques?

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