Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

For many months we have listened to statements from the Taoiseach and his Ministers claiming the Mahon tribunal should be allowed to do its work expeditiously at as little cost as possible and that we should all await its findings. We heard repeated claims from the Taoiseach that he co-operated fully with the tribunal, that he wants to do so and that he sent it comprehensive records in so far as his financial and tax affairs were concerned.

Recently, the House was presented with a Government amendment to a motion of confidence in the tribunal that it was acting independently and without bias and should be allowed to do its work within this context. During this time, little were we aware the Taoiseach and his legal team were cooking up an attempt to make a legal challenge which aims to delay the tribunal and prevent it from asking relevant and important questions.

Against this background where the Taoiseach has created another media frenzy, I wish to ask three questions. Has the Taoiseach misled the Dáil in any of his previous comments or answers with regard to the Mahon tribunal or his contacts with the Revenue Commissioners?

Under Article 15.12 of the Constitution, it is the Taoiseach's responsibility to identify the specific utterances and statements he seeks to prevent the tribunal from questioning. What are these statements and utterances?

When the Cabinet sat down to discuss the motion of confidence in the Mahon tribunal tabled by Fine Gael it discussed an amendment to the motion of confidence. It is perfectly obvious the claim the Taoiseach lodged yesterday had been in preparation for a considerable time. During the course of discussions on the motion of confidence, did the Taoiseach make his party colleagues and hapless supporters in Cabinet aware of his intent and preparations for the launching of a legal challenge to the tribunal?

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