Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Does the Taoiseach still agree with his statement, at the time of the publication of the McCracken tribunal report, that "the acceptance of large gifts or payments or personal benefits in a surreptitious manner or the large scale evasion of tax and exchange control regulations by even one or two senior serving politicians or members of Government is deeply damaging to trust in politics"? There has been much criticism by the Taoiseach and other Ministers of the Mahon tribunal for the scope of its investigations, its duration and cost. There is a credibility deficit because there are pertinent questions about many other tribunals but we have not heard these criticisms of other tribunals in which the Taoiseach was not directly involved.

Regarding costs, can the Taoiseach clearly and exactly spell out the steps that have been taken and the measures introduced to reduce the cost of tribunals, especially the exorbitant daily rate paid to counsel?

See this speech in context