Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)

Yesterday during the course of my contribution I asked the Taoiseach, the Government and the leaders of the Opposition to frame a motion in such a way that it would not prejudice my position in relation to any action I may take at a later date. I understood it was being taken without debate but ten minutes before the Dáil resumed this morning I was told that in actual fact a right of reply had been inserted in the motion because of the necessity to give me the entitlement to respond. It was not something that I looked for nor it was inserted at the request of the Government or anybody else.

Obviously, I will not take 30 minutes to reply but I will make a few points in a very short space of time. I repeat that I have been the subject of investigation by various institutions of the State over a 16 year period. Eight separate inquiries have been conducted into my personal financial affairs and company affairs. The level of scrutiny, the level of inquiry and the level of intrusion is unprecedented in the history of this State. I believe — and I repeat — it is absurd that any individual should be subjected to such a prolonged and sustained attack. Several reports have been produced and, because it is important to understand this, I remind the House that despite the length of the investigation and time involved no charge has ever been brought against me. I have not been convicted of any charge and I remind the House that I am not a criminal despite the commentary to that effect.

Recently the Moriarty report was published after 14 years. Since that report was published it has been accepted as fact in many situations. I am a practising politician and I know in my heart that probably nobody in this House has actually read the report. They have all gone on the soundbites or picked up on the pieces they read in the media. They have all picked up on the pieces that led to sensationalism. The House should be reminded that the motion before it is in response to a publication that is based on opinion and not based on law or fact. This report is seriously flawed and is not grounded in fact or evidence. It does me and the civil servants involved a serious injustice.

Members should be mindful that since the report was published, or since this inquiry started, I have been punished to an extraordinary extent. There has not been a day in those 14 years when I was not abused verbally or vilified. To be blunt about it, there were times when I felt humiliated. In that regard, I thank the Members of this House who have shown kindness to me and I thank my family and friends for the support they gave me in very difficult times.

I ask the Ceann Comhairle to confirm that the motion does not restrict or interfere with my rights and entitlements or the privileges this House affords to democratically elected Members. I wish to have that confirmed.

I want to say to the people of the constituency I represent that I will continue to serve as a Member of this House, that I will give them the service I provided in the past and that I will do my best to do what is right for the people who have placed their confidence and faith in me.

I have followed the debate and I have heard the commentary in the House and on radio and television. I have listened to various contributions. Yesterday, I observed the main Opposition party, Fianna Fáil, push this motion and listened to the comments of that party's leader. Perhaps this morning's commentary reflects something of the debate we have held over the past two days but the general consensus was that the best part of yesterday's debate was its wind up, when the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, exposed the hypocrisy of Deputy Martin and gave him one of the best bushwhackings I have seen in this House for a long time. In regard to the kind of posturing practised by the new leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Martin, and his clean-cut, Steve Silvermint image, it will not be long before the wraps come off. I am sure we will not have to wait long before other reports or issues come before the House and when the wraps come off I do not think they will be smelling of mint for Deputy Martin or his party colleagues who were so anxious to condemn me.

Deputy McDonald's sense of natural justice makes me want to retch. It comes from somebody who was associated with atrocities, mutilation and murders of civilians and unarmed gardaí. I will not take a lecture from Deputy McDonald or anybody in the Sinn Féin Party on my behaviour. As far as I am concerned, I am dealing with a report that has a long way to go before any of the opinions that were formulated in it find any favour. In light of the prolonged nature of these investigations — they have been going on for 16 years now — I am asking the Tánaiste, as a citizen of the State, that my constitutional right to have all these matters brought to a conclusion be respected. How long more am I expected to withstand this kind of scrutiny? How long more am I expected to stand up without any support or assistance to defend myself legally or any other way? I am asking him and the Minister for Justice and Law Reform to ensure that whatever Garda inquiry takes place be done expeditiously and brought to an end, and that I then be allowed to respond to whatever may or may not emanate from that inquiry. I do not want this report to be sitting indefinitely in the Garda headquarters or the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions or wherever it is sent. I want a result. I want a decision and I am entitled to that after this prolonged period of time.

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