Dáil debates

Tuesday, 20 May 2008

2:30 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I wished to know the number of files transferred from the Taoiseach's Department to the tribunals, but the Taoiseach has not confirmed this. He is reluctant to say whether the file on the purchase of the Battle of the Boyne site was requested. He did say that his Department co-operates fully in supplying the relevant information, which is gathered on a confidential basis, to the tribunals. However, there is a great deal of public information available on the file to which I refer because of one person who was associated with the group that bought the site in 1997 for £2.7 million. The site was sold for £7.8 million two years later. Despite the fact that the Department of Foreign Affairs was opposed to the holding of such a commemoration, it was taken to a point at which the Taoiseach's predecessor requested that a meeting take place between the then Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, former Deputy Síle de Valera, and Deputy Séamus Brennan to investigate whether it could be included in the millennium projects.

The former Taoiseach did answer one question on this matter but subsequently refused to answer any other questions. I do not know what the Taoiseach has in front of him but perhaps he would comment on what was actually going on between the Department of Foreign Affairs and his Department and whether the person associated with the group that originally purchased the site was directly involved. It is a matter of public interest. Will the Taoiseach confirm that if questions are asked about the Battle of the Boyne site he will answer them, unlike his predecessor who shoved them off somewhere else?

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