Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

A couple of weeks ago, the House urged the Mahon tribunal to complete its work on the basis of the confidence we had in it to fulfil its mandate. It goes without saying that such confidence is based on the expectation that the tribunal will operate fairly and with full regard to the rights of all relevant parties. It is in the nature of tribunals of inquiry to structure evidence and to examine witnesses on a sequential basis. In the absence of normal sub judice rules, each isolated exchange can be commented on and pored over publicly and the most outrageous and implausible construction put on it. Deputy Kenny has decided in the context of his job to take over the role of the Revenue Commissioners, he has decided that people are not tax compliant and he has made these decisions when they are not in accordance with the facts.

The Taoiseach is meeting the requirements of the Standards in Public Office Act — we know this to be the case. We know his evidence continues. We know he is entitled to a fair hearing. This House, in the terms of reference that were adopted for the tribunal of inquiry, appointed people to come to conclusions on these matters in the round when they have heard all the evidence and everything has been tested. Deputy Kenny has decided, as his political tactic, to come to the House on a weekly, if possible hourly, basis to put his version of events, or that of his self-appointed spokesman, on the record of this House in trying to brandish assertion as fact. With all due respect to Deputy Kenny, we will await the outcome of the tribunal of inquiry. We will await its hearing of all the evidence. I do not need lectures from Deputy Kenny on my standards. My standards relate to fair play and the hearing of the evidence. They certainly do not relate to people being guilty before being proven innocent.

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