Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I made no comment on the matter whatsoever. I was elsewhere.

Section 10 of the Bill permits the dissolution of a tribunal for stated reasons. Section 42(3) states plainly this power of dissolution applies to existing tribunals. If this Bill is being introduced now because the Government has no legislation ready, why seek to misrepresent its contents? It is remarkable at present that if the Opposition asked for a debate on the state of Irish soccer, the request is likely to be granted if it fills a day.

Were it not for obstruction and calculated delaying tactics the investigation into the Quarryvale development would have concluded at least three years ago. The Moriarty and Morris tribunals are both concluding. Why insert provisions into this Bill that would enable the Government to shut down the Mahon tribunal? If for some good reason we have not yet heard it is important that the Bill contains such provisions, why deny them in public? The Minister knows better than me that his claims that he does not intend to apply the Bill to existing tribunals carry no weight in law. I do not question his intentions for one minute but, if there is one thing we know in politics, it is that situations change. If, for example, the Government's lifespan suddenly depended on using a power in this Bill to stay in office, does the Minister, who has joined us in the House more recently than some of his colleagues, seriously believe that Fianna Fáil would refrain from using it?

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