Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Three weeks ago the Taoiseach promised the House that he would operate his Government according to new standards of accountability and openness. He said nobody would be exempt from the need to be fully honest about his or her actions, past or present. He is now faced with turning these words into action. For the last week with the Minister, Deputy Hogan, and others, he has avoided making any public comment on the Minister's dealings with the Moriarty tribunal. It is now clear that the House's consideration of the report is being designed by the Government to avoid the direct questioning of its members.

Given the seriousness of the issues dealt with in the Moriarty tribunal report, I assume the Taoiseach has taken the time to discuss them with colleagues, especially the man widely viewed as being central to his retaining the leadership of Fine Gael and eventually assuming the office of the Taoiseach. Earlier this year the Minister, Deputy Hogan, publicly stated Fine Gael would shorten the work of the Moriarty tribunal. He did this with the approval of the leader of Fine Gael. Did the Taoiseach or the Minister have sight of the tribunal's draft unpublished report before the Minister issued that statement? Will the Taoiseach indicate if there were any contacts or meetings between the Minister or any other senior Fine Gael representative with Denis O'Brien in the last 12 months and, if so, what was the nature of such contacts or meetings?

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