Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I have always been of the view that when the tribunal proceedings are brought into this House they do not do much credit to this House or to the tribunal since many attributions are accorded to it which are not in accordance with the facts. Many contentions are made as if they were established facts and we have heard some of that from previous speakers. There was also talk from the Opposition leaders about standards and standing by the republic, lectures from Fine Gael and Labour on civic republicanism. I do not take any lectures from those quarters. We have our principles and our own sense of integrity——

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