Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

As he said, he opened up his bank accounts to the tribunal and waived his right to confidentiality in respect of such matters. All these facts were in the public domain when the people agreed to give a vote of confidence to the Taoiseach. Given that the tribunal has not made a decision in the five months which have passed since, why are we debating the issue today? The new Dáil has not yet had a chance to debate this country's major issues. The ability of the Taoiseach to govern, to lead Ministers and to implement the programme for Government is not being questioned in any way. The public has put its faith in the Taoiseach and the Government as a whole to lead the country. There is no basis for the motion of no confidence. It has been proposed because the Opposition parties are trying to establish themselves in opposition at the beginning of the new Dáil term. Politicians who have been elected as Deputies are not members of a tribunal, just as those who have been elected as party leaders have not been appointed as tribunal judges. Certain politicians and party leaders are trying to be the tribunal and the judges in that tribunal.

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