Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

The inference is that all of this is on the Fianna Fáil side and I am stating it is equally on the Opposition's side. To me, this person is no different to anybody else. If it was an ordinary individual I do not think the bank would have been as accommodating. I do not cast any aspersions on the integrity of the person, a man who did great work for this country and who I hold in the highest regard. When one wants to talk about smears and inferences one must balance it.

With regard to the famous builders who were mentioned, I remind Fine Gael that some years ago it had a loan of €3 million or €4 million which was paid off with the help of these same builders. It is ridiculous for Fine Gael to state that this is a one-way process. It used these builders to pay off its loans.

Fine Gael holds fundraising events. It did not have a tent in Galway but it has Fairyhouse races and the dogs in the street in my constituency and in Meath know that every year Fine Gael runs a major fundraiser in Fairyhouse at which its party members wine and dine with the same set of builders the party speaks about. It also holds golf classics and every one of these builders subscribes to its annual golf classics. I do not suggest there is anything untoward in this, I am just making the point that in terms of the criticisms we have heard and the smears thrown around that Fine Gael should look at its own scene.

Speaking about banks and the ins and outs of this, it is my recollection that in evidence which came before tribunals, ingenious methods were used to conceal donations to Fine Gael. I will mention a donation of €127,000 from Ben Dunne which eventually found its way into the Fine Gael bank account in a long and convoluted manner, as did a donation of $50,000 from Telenor, a Norwegian company. This money went 80 days around the world's banks before it eventually came to the Fine Gael bank account. I do not state there was anything wrong with the donation. I am stating that in terms of fairness and balance, let us consider the issues. Fine Gael also has its "ins" with the banking circles.

Equally, the Labour Party has used builders for fundraisers. Deputy Burton is aware of this in her constituency and in mine.

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