Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

They say "Repetitio mater studiorum est." I was asked last week whether I would be here to answer questions - yes or no - and I said "Yes". I will be here, please God, to answer questions. I will answer, as far as the Moriarty tribunal is concerned, any Member who has questions about Fine Gael's fund-raising activities in that regard. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will take questions about the tribunal per se.

I wish to outline the reasons we have put this in the way we have. Deputy Lowry is the central focus of the tribunal report. He approached the Whip to seek a speaking slot, which we were quite happy to grant him. Subsequently, he came back to seek more time. I discussed this with the Tánaiste and we agreed, in respect of his request for 50 minutes, that we should give him more than that. He then requested that he be able to participate in the question and answer session and, rather than divert that from the Minister with direct responsibility for it - or, as far as the party and its activities with regard to the tribunal are concerned, myself - we agreed that Deputy Lowry should be given an opportunity to respond to any claims made during the course of the debate before the question and answer session, which will be taken by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and me, with a wrap-up by the same Minister.

Deputy Martin makes the point that not enough time has been allocated. I remind him that he asked for the Dáil to be recalled last Monday for a couple of hours debate on the Moriarty tribunal. We have already allocated seven and a half hours. I remind him that on 10 February 2004, statements on the Mahon tribunal lasted for 55 minutes, with a 15-minute question and answer session. I also remind him that on 14 February 2007, statements on the interim report of the Moriarty tribunal lasted for 90 minutes, with no question and answer session.

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