Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We have rules and regulations for the ordering and structuring of business. The Whips' meeting will take place tomorrow at 5 p.m. and the arrangements to be made for next week's business will be discussed there. Those who are seeking ample opportunity for discussion, contributions and questions about the report will be facilitated.

I reject Deputy Higgins's comment that the Government will not treat this in any serious fashion. This report deals with the reputation of the Civil Service which has been of outstanding and critical importance to our State since its foundation. It deals with politicians, political parties and with how Government business is done. I also reject the imputation in Deputy Martin's question that there is something to answer by those who sat around the Cabinet table as Ministers at the time. Obviously anyone who sat around that table will have no difficulty in making a contribution to this debate or in answering any questions. I am not here to defend any individual; I am here as elected Taoiseach and we will deal with this report with the seriousness and gravity it deserves. I make the point to Deputy Martin in respect of his comments about the culture of a company at the time, this party never had a tent in Galway and never shepherded people into it on a regular basis for contributions. For those who might say for public benefit that they are astounded, I take that with a grain of salt.

The Whips' meeting will take place at 5 p.m. tomorrow and there will be ample opportunity for all Members to have read the 2,500 page report of the Moriarty tribunal and to make their views known in the House. We will see that happens and we will treat the report with the gravity it deserves. I remind Members that there are between four and six serious cases pending in the High Court or the Supreme Court in respect of this.

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