Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Whips are meeting at 5 p.m. and I hope they can reach agreement on a conclusion to this matter. The motion of 30 January 2001 in respect of the tribunal then sitting to investigate the late Deputy, Liam Lawlor, stated:

That Dáil Éireann is of the opinion that, given the sentence of the High Court, structured as it was to elicit full co-operation within a definite timeframe and the fact that the judge referred to his membership of Dáil Éireann, Deputy Lawlor should now fully meet the requirements of the courts and the tribunal or, that failure to do so within that timeframe would confirm his membership of Dáil Éireann to be untenable and that he should voluntarily resign his membership.

This resulted from a decision of the High Court. An amendment was tabled to the motion and the Dáil divided, with 79 Deputies for the motion and 72 against it. The Whips will meet to ascertain whether we can arrange an agreed position, which I would be happy to take in Government time.

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