Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I could have glossed over this issue, but did not because the eighth report was very pertinent to the way in which we deal with our business. I am fully in favour of proper regulated whistleblowing. I was asked what I would do in that case. Over the course of my career I have been the recipient of anonymous allegations. I well recall one occasion when I was in opposition, just before an election and I was the Whip. The then party leader, Deputy Bertie Ahern, called me into his office because he had received a serious allegation about a member of the Labour Party. He was looking for my advice and wanted to know what he should do about it. I told him to throw it in the bin, because he could not get information on from where the allegation came.

This is the point I make with regard to what Mr. Justice Morris has to say about the Deputies' involvement in this, particularly that of former Deputy Jim Higgins. The fact is that he had a second fax which he did not produce for ten months. He held it back and that fact is in the report and cannot be denied. That fax would have completely exonerated Assistant Garda Commissioner Carty and that is the reason I felt it was my duty as Minister to say what I did.

I will not be lectured by Deputy Rabbitte on this and I will not allow him to denigrate any Deputy, regardless of whether they are new. I did not ask him to come in. I did not have a clue he was coming in.

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