Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The manner in which the House is dealing with this matter highlights the death of any charitable instinct in the Opposition parties. I do not believe any Member, least of all myself, could remember after 14 years detailed transactions in his or her personal finances, particularly in the fevered atmosphere following a difficult and turbulent marriage breakdown. There is no point in the Opposition skirting around this issue and talking about credibility. Where is the credibility of an Opposition which had the opportunity to raise these matters but failed to do so? It has been publicly criticised for this and Deputy Brian Hayes has acknowledged it was incompetent in dealing with the matters when they arose last October and during the general election.

Deputy Bertie Ahern is the same man I supported 20 years ago. The remarkable secret of his longevity and success in the political system is that he is exactly the same man he was 20 years ago. He has not changed because of success and achievement. What one sees is what one gets. I accept he is not the perfect memory man like Jimmy Magee and cannot remember who won the FA Cup final in 1924 or 1954.

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