Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I accept that it is practical politics to enter into arrangements with people who wish to support the Government. However, we do not live in a secret society and nor should that be the case. In the midst of a national crisis and a recession, secret deals - which were hammered out between the Government and several Independent Deputies - still exist and no one can obtain details relating to them, either through freedom of information requests or by some other means. We were originally informed that the deals concluded with three Independents in June 2007 were worth millions of euro to various constituencies. I can neither confirm nor deny whether that is the case because I do not know the position. The relevant information will not be provided, unless it is in the form of visible evidence of corners of pages containing the signature of the Taoiseach's predecessor.

In light of the current national crisis and the fact that we all have ideas about how best to get the economy moving again and get people back to work, is the Taoiseach of the view that, for good or ill, it would be appropriate that details of the arrangements be published? Is there any truth in reports which emerged in recent days to the effect that at least two of the Independent Deputies involved have indicated that some shaving has been carried out in respect of the financial arrangements and that some of the matters that were listed as priorities have now been removed? Will the Taoiseach confirm whether that is the position? Furthermore, will he indicate whether these Independent Deputies are part of the review he is obliged to conduct with the Green Party, the Members of which are absent from the Chamber, which is holding a meeting on 18 July to decide on its priorities?

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