John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

affirms its confidence in the Mahon tribunal and believes it will fulfil the tribunal's mandate pursuant to the amended terms of reference established by the Oireachtas;

notes that the tribunal was established to inquire urgently into certain planning matters and report to the Clerk of the Dáil and make such findings and recommendations as it sees fit;

notes the rulings of the Supreme Court in relation to the tribunal of inquiry's terms of reference;

notes the projected cost of this tribunal of inquiry, urges the tribunal to continue its work and looks forward to receiving the report of the tribunal expeditiously, in order that the Dáil may debate and deliberate on its findings;

urges the early consideration and enactment by the Oireachtas of the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005 to underpin the confidence of the public and the Oireachtas in any future tribunals and to address matters of procedure and practice in the conduct of any such tribunals;

welcomes the opportunity to discuss the procedures and practices involved in investigating matters mandated by Oireachtas Éireann; and

condemns the leaking of tribunal documents as a breach of confidentiality as established by law, and an infringement on the rights of those affected, and supports appropriate actions to investigate such leaks, and further reaffirms the right to confidentiality to which each citizen is entitled in their correspondence with the tribunal."

I am sharing time with Deputy O'Dea.

Our amendment is clear and unambiguous. We are expressing confidence in the members, mandate and process of the Mahon tribunal. I have been at pains to point out that the Green Party has always had confidence in the Mahon tribunal.

The Opposition motion is a transparent attempt to cast doubt on the bona fides of this Government with regard to the operation of the planning tribunal and to suggest the Government does not consider the tribunal is acting appropriately within its terms of reference.

The Government is fully committed to supporting the tribunal in bringing its inquiries to a successful and speedy conclusion, and looks forward to the publication, as soon as possible, of its report, in order that the Dáil may debate and deliberate on what, hopefully, will be substantive findings and recommendations.

Over the past decade, successive Governments, led by the current Taoiseach, have responded positively to all requests from the tribunal for action to support its work, whether through the appointment of additional members, the amendment of its terms of reference, the provision of additional resources or the continuation of funding arrangements and fee scales beyond the tribunal's intended conclusion date.

See this speech in context