Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

What is the Taoiseach's view on a €76,000 credit limit on a credit card issued to the persons involved? Will he explain beyond what the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment said was all in the past?

The situation is that the Comptroller and Auditor General, the fraud squad and the Committee of Public Accounts are examining the organisation. Various people associated with various elements of this organisation over the past several years are beginning to spill the beans at an inordinate rate. The Taoiseach is in charge. What is he going to do about it? How can he stand over this? Action is taken in other countries in cases involving the abuse and wastage of public moneys.

I am being careful not to impugn the personal integrity of any person. However, I am concerned about what appears to be extravagant wastage, abuse of privilege and failure to account for the taxpayer's money. The Taoiseach can sit over there claiming the process is in place and we will get an answer in due course. That is not good enough; it is too cavalier an approach. The Taoiseach heads up the Government, people pay their taxes and 2,500 people are going on the unemployment list every week while these stories about wild extravagance on West Cocoa Beach in Florida emerge.

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