Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I never said the Taoiseach received anything from Mr. Owen O'Callaghan. My question relates to the disbelief throughout the country at the evidence the Taoiseach gave to the tribunal. I refer to the idea that the Taoiseach had no bank account for a long period of time and cannot remember receiving or lodging certain moneys. I refer to the suggestion that the Taoiseach got a bagful of money from a man who walked into his office. It has been claimed that this money, which was not counted by the Taoiseach, the man in question or the person who lodged it, was left in a wardrobe overnight. I would like to comment on the idea that one lodgement coincided with an even amount of dollars and another lodgement coincided with an even amount of sterling. We can take one coincidence, but to believe in two coincidences is a little far-fetched. The problem we have is that we do not believe the Taoiseach. We do not believe what he said to the tribunal. I do not believe the Taoiseach's story. I think his story at the tribunal was a cock and bull story and I think many people in this country agree with me.

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