Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I wish to share time with Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. Today is an unfortunate day. It is not the type of day any of us envisaged coming back on. The subject at issue is not one any of us wishes to speak to. Nevertheless, if one stands for public office and is elected, there are things one must do even if one does not necessarily want to. It is part of the job.

I have listened with great interest and amusement over the last number of weeks and have heard every single Fianna Fáil Minister and, now, backbencher sing from the one hymn sheet. It is commendable to an extent. It shows the type of loyalty one expects within a political party. However, when the hymn involves the spinning of facts, it the job of the Opposition to point out exactly what are the facts. This is not about the Taoiseach's personal life. No one mentioned his personal life until the Taoiseach raised it himself. For him to continue to throw that cloak around him is unacceptable. He should not do it. The Taoiseach hopes his continued use of his cloak of invisibility will force us all to back off. It is like Ray Burke coming in here and crying with the result that the Opposition backed off because someone was upset. The nation has been upset by the type of corruption we have seen in the past.

Under discussion is a citizen who happens to be the Taoiseach. An accusation has been made and the tribunal has approached the Taoiseach as it would approach me or a local urban councillor to require the production of bank records. It may be the case that there is nothing in the bank records connected to Owen O'Callaghan. However, there are unexplained amounts of money in the records and, regardless of what the Taoiseach says, he has not explained them.

I listened to Deputy Finian McGrath. He cannot continue to ride two horses.

See this speech in context