Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I would listen to what the tribunal has to say about its workings and how we can best assist it. It is the best arbiter of how we should conduct ourselves on the proceedings there. In a formal statement at the beginning of this year the tribunal made it clear that it does not regard as helpful continuing evaluations on a weekly and daily basis, mostly from Fine Gael members in an effort to draw some partisan political advantage that might emerge. The tribunal has made it clear that is not helpful to the conduct of its proceedings. It affects the perception of fair play which the tribunal is anxious to uphold and which it will and must uphold.

The tribunals are not subject to the usual sub judice rules of court and hearsay and second-hand evidence can be brought forward. The allegation against the Taoiseach, on the basis of an assertion made by Mr. Tom Gilmartin, which has been of nine years standing, that he obtained a corrupt payment from Mr. Owen O'Callaghan, as far as I am aware has not been directly put to him yet. There is no supportive material in the interim to suggest it is true or has been corroborated.

On the bogus dollar claim, counsel for the Taoiseach does not agree with the theory the tribunal put forward. I do not often read the transcripts, but on that occasion it made the point that it was simply putting forward propositions, not advocating positions. The suggestion Deputy Kenny contends, that the tribunal holds that view, is not something even counsel for the tribunal suggests. It is simply putting a proposition to the Taoiseach for him to rebut it.

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