Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Does the Taoiseach accept that what we have heard over the past week further undermines his credibility and erodes his authority? We heard Mr. Padraic O'Connor last week giving sworn evidence which tears apart the carefully constructed accounts of the dig-outs that the Taoiseach gave to Brian Dobson on RTE in September 2006. We have heard claims from the former chairman of the national lottery that as Minister for Finance, the Taoiseach approved that body's involvement in the plan to build a casino on the Phoenix Park racecourse at a time when he publicly opposed the project. It was also at a time while the main Fianna Fáil fundraiser — and the Taoiseach's personal fundraiser — accepted a donation from one of the promoters of the project, coincidentally in dollars, in Manchester.

It appears to me that the Taoiseach is engulfed in all of this at present. All of this is taking place at a time when the country is facing very significant problems. We hear today that 500 people are to lose their jobs in Galway. There is a continuing problem with cancer services. We had the National Women's Council outside the Dáil today and there was a big meeting of the ICA last week, on cancer care services. There was a shooting in Finglas over the weekend, showing us that gun crime has not gone away. Also, there are reports of a decline in Government revenues and a tightening in the economy.

What proportion of time is the Taoiseach now giving to defending himself, as distinct from addressing the many problems the country is facing, which require his attention as Head of Government? Specifically, will he tell the House the dates on which he is due to appear before the Mahon tribunal again? I understand he is due to give evidence to the tribunal before Christmas. Will the Taoiseach tell the House what dates he is due to give evidence before the Mahon tribunal and for how many days he will be preparing for this? Does the Taoiseach expect to be before the Mahon tribunal again after Christmas? On how many occasions does he expect to be back before the Mahon tribunal before it concludes hearing evidence on the module it is now investigating?

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