Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Both Houses have discussed the report. I have no difficulty with the relevant committee dealing with any of these matters. I am not involved in any phoney confrontation with anyone. As I have done in the past, however, I am entitled to make the point that there is no obligation on the Government to accept the recommendations in a special report.

It is clear from the record of the debates relating to this matter that there has been an attempt to continue with a misrepresentation of the position of a certain Member of the House. The particular allegations in this case - which the Ombudsman, in her report, accepts were not well grounded - continue to be made. Deputy Gilmore suggests that he wants this matter dealt with in a non-partisan fashion. However, in the debates that have taken place it has been dealt with in an extremely partisan way. That is the truth of the matter.

If people want to deal with the report in a proper fashion before a committee of the Houses, I for one am not in the business of blocking what committees want to do. I am also not in the business of facilitating those who state that they want a matter to be dealt with in a non-partisan way when the contents of the relevant debates on that matter suggest the contrary.

The Ombudsman's report sets out the position. The charges that were made against the relevant Deputy were unfounded. However, for political reasons, Members of this House are making efforts to ensure that the matter remains in the public domain and it is they who keep uttering jibes, etc.

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