Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Ceann Comhairle and the Taoiseach back to the House after the recess. I congratulate Deputy Gilmore on his first day as Labour Party leader in the House. I am not sure what the Ceann Comhairle meant by all of that but common sense and the truth are imperative to what we must do in the House as much as anywhere else. I will abide by the Chair's ruling.

What I have to ask is relevant to comments made in the House by the Taoiseach. I am in order by requiring accountability and accuracy to the House. What I will say relates to comments that were first made in the House. I do not have the time that Mr. Des O'Neill, SC, had to question the Taoiseach forensically but I have two questions that are as important as any the Taoiseach has been asked.

The first relates to the large amounts of cash which the Taoiseach received between 1993 and 1995. We now have the benefit of statements made in the House, statements made to the media and evidence given on oath to the Mahon tribunal. We are thus able to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of those statements. I have two questions for the Taoiseach. First, is it his intention to make a personal statement to the House and correct misleading statements that he has made to the Dáil in the past 12 months on this issue? Second, does he still say that he fully and freely co-operated with the Mahon tribunal?

See this speech in context