Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The new leader of the Labour Party is going for the old discredited Labour Party approach of heads in baskets. Deputy Gilmore told us during the election that the people should decide on any issue arising out of the Taoiseach's finances. His position now is that he alone should decide and the Labour Party has the neck to criticise the Taoiseach about contradictions; one could not make it up. As legislators, those of us on this side of the House want to get on with the business of the Dáil and of running the country. To be fair I think that is what the majority of people on the opposite side also want. It is a poor reflection on the Opposition that it is engaging in such a charade at such an important time. As the Government motion reflects and almost everybody who has spoken today acknowledges, the Taoiseach has made an enormous contribution to Irish public life. He was Minister for Labour when social partnership first took root and, as a result, the days of widespread strikes and industrial chaos were consigned to history. He was Minister for Finance when international commentators first used the phrase "Celtic tiger" to describe Ireland's economic progress. He is the first Taoiseach since Éamon de Valera in 1944 to win three elections in a row.

The Taoiseach is a giant of modern history. No Taoiseach has a more impressive curriculum vitae including leadership of the peace process, record economic and employment growth unprecedented in the history of independent Ireland, negotiating successful partnership agreements and his standing as a European statesman as evidenced during our country's successful EU Presidency. Faced with such a political colossus, the Opposition's only tactic is to try to take the low road to high office. The Taoiseach has served in public life for three decades. He has held a number of offices of State and it is self-evident that he has not benefited from any political decision he has made. Bertie Ahern does not live an ostentatious lifestyle. His life revolves around work in public service and there is no suggestion that he has placed private gain above the public interest.

The tribunals sought the Taoiseach's bank records on the basis of allegations made to it that he had received money from Owen O'Callaghan. This is an allegation the Taoiseach and Mr. O'Callaghan both deny and one which there is no evidence to substantiate. The Taoiseach was previously vindicated when the allegation was before the Circuit Court. The tribunal sought sight of the Taoiseach's bank records and queried a number of lodgements relating to the period surrounding the conclusion of the Taoiseach's separation agreement. It was a time when the Taoiseach did not have a home or marriage and had considerable legal bills to discharge. The Taoiseach has acknowledged financial assistance from personal friends in the period which those contributors have confirmed. No allegation of impropriety exists in relation to these payments. There is no question of favours sought or given. It is important to note that during more than 18 hours at the tribunal, not one allegation of improper conduct was put to the Taoiseach in the context of any of the funds he received.

The Taoiseach was asked for details of his personal life and of how people assisted him. He provided the information to the best of his recollection. While the nitty-gritty of every banking lodgement and transaction from 12 or 13 years ago might stick in the minds of some, it should be remembered that it was a time of political and personal turmoil during which Bertie Ahern's focus was not solely on his financial affairs. It is important to note that there was no attempt to conceal any of the lodgements into which the tribunal has inquired and that they were made into regular AIB accounts. The lodgements were made in this way because there was nothing to hide and nothing sinister in progress. Those who have said the Taoiseach has failed to supply every detail are the very same people who would be jumping up and down saying it was not credible had the Taoiseach professed to possess total and immediate recall of every aspect of his financial affairs from over a decade ago.

While all of us accept that those in public life must be open to scrutiny, we must also reject vehemently a campaign of leaks and vilification unprecedented in modern Irish history. Participation in public life should not mean people have a licence to destroy unfairly the reputations of those who serve. If ever it becomes so, who then will serve? It is to be hoped that all Members will pay even half as much attention to the evidence of Mr. Gilmartin as they did the Taoiseach's. Mr. Gilmartin's allegations about the Taoiseach are falling apart under cross-examination. It has been demonstrated that Mr. Gilmartin has made up significant numbers of inconsistent and contradictory allegations about the Taoiseach and others. We should not forget that the purpose of the tribunal's inquiries into the Taoiseach is supposed to be to establish whether he got money from Owen O'Callaghan. After lengthy and expensive investigation into the Taoiseach's house, his family circumstances, landlord and other irrelevant matters, it is crystal clear that the allegations which are currently relevant — that he received money from Mr. O'Callaghan — are completely and utterly without foundation.

I conclude by quoting Mr. Justice Flood who said that in his view there was nothing in what had been heard which would lead the tribunal to make an adverse judgment against the Taoiseach.

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