Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

In the debate on the motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach last September, the Tánaiste made great play of political loyalty and how important it is to him. That loyalty led the Tánaiste and his colleagues in Fianna Fáil to support Deputy Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach in September, despite the evidence that he had received large amounts of money for personal use, that he had not been co-operative with the Mahon tribunal and that he had not given a credible explanation for the source of these funds. Since September, the tribunal's work has continued, despite criticism from Fianna Fáil Ministers and an attack from the Taoiseach's legal team.

Last Thursday, as the Tánaiste is aware, more dramatic facts emerged from the tribunal. Fact — more accounts with more lodgements were revealed and assurances given to the Dáil and on RTE that the Taoiseach had disclosed all accounts and all lodgements were shown to be false. Fact — the Taoiseach admitted to getting a gift of money when Minister for Finance and not declaring it to the Revenue Commissioners or paying tax on it. Fact — £30,000 donated or collected by Fianna Fáil personnel for the Fianna Fáil Party was used for the purchase of a house. Fact — this money was only refunded after the tribunal had uncovered its existence. These are not tribunal conclusions; these are facts contained in the transcripts of the tribunal. They are set out in black and white for anybody to read.

Given that the assurances given by the Taoiseach, Deputy Ahern, to the nation prior to the general election that he had no tax issues, that the source of all these monies could be explained and that no further donation revelations were due have been demonstrated to be patently false, I want to know from the Tánaiste, as deputy leader of the Government and Minister for Finance, what action he proposes to rectify the situation and remove the paralysis from Government.

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