Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

In light of the fact that the Moriarty tribunal has issued a report concerning the awarding of the most valuable commercial licence ever awarded by an Irish Government - and accepting and acknowledging the report is detailed and complex and this is no small issue, which has enormous implications for the State, both financial and political - and that it represents a damning indictment of the collective decision arrived at by the then Government and the process leading to the decision to award the licence, the report addresses two core points: what happened before the licence was awarded to promote the interests of one bidder and what happened after the licence was awarded.

Even though it is a long and detailed report, in the context of issues about which the Taoiseach will be aware, will he explain his own personal level of knowledge of the pervasive culture at the time of Esat Digifone raising its level of influence within Fine Gael and over Fine Gael via the many donations it made at the time? A strong link is made in the report between what is termed "a pattern of significant conspicuous financial support to Fine Gael" and the decision arrived at regarding the awarding of the licence. Would the Taoiseach be able to explain his own personal level of knowledge of that culture and of the fundraising activities that went on?

Six members of the current Government sat around the Cabinet table when that most valuable licence was awarded. Will the Taoiseach, in light of his earlier commitment, facilitate an opportunity to the House and to those Ministers to account for their role in that decision and their perspective on how that licence was awarded?

Does the Government intend to send the report to the Director of Public Prosecutions?

See this speech in context