Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

When the tribunal wrote to the House on previous occasions on matters of significance with regard to its continuance we had discussion in the House. Usually such discussion was on foot of a motion tabled by the Minister with responsibility for the environment. My recollection is that the last time we discussed this a formula was agreed for the conclusion of the tribunal's work. As I read it, the letter from the chairman of the tribunal, while it is in line with what was previously agreed, goes further than what was previously agreed. The previous agreement of the House anticipated that the tribunal would investigate matters beyond the Quarryvale module. I submit to you, a Cheann Comhairle, and it is a matter to which we can return next week, that when the tribunal writes to the House, which established the tribunal, saying it is going to conclude its business and setting down arrangements and a timetable for the preparation of its report and submission of that report to the House, that correspondence needs to be discussed in the House. I do not disagree with the Tánaiste that we have reached the point where the House needs to consider the winding up of the Mahon tribunal but it is a matter that needs to be discussed in the House. I ask that this issue be looked at between now and next week and we can return to it next week. The correspondence from the Mahon tribunal needs to be discussed here in the House.

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