Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

It took €150 million and 13 or 14 years to produce this report. The Taoiseach spoke earlier about the gap between government and citizens and between the political class and the people. This report cannot be allowed to gather dust. The Government has been loud in its rhetoric about the need for political reform, and this is an acute case. A person who does not pay their television licence or an unfortunate woman, crippled by the universal social charge, who steals a loaf of bread or a pint of milk could end up in Mountjoy Prison, yet white collar crime becomes subject to this type of badminton game. Citizens want to know when white collar crime will be dealt with and what the Government will do about these serious issues, which involve public moneys and a public office.

There is no more profound thing than to be elected to represent one's peers. The Taoiseach has been an exemplary representative for a long time and I am aware that he holds that to be a core value. However, we will not narrow the gap if we punish the poor, the working class and those who fall on the wrong side of the law and not take action against those who fleece taxpayers, usurp whatever authority is vested in the Government and who are involved in what is essentially corrupt behaviour.

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