Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. There is no doubt that the publication of the final report of the Mahon tribunal marks a dark chapter in the history of my party. There is little doubt it will have a significant impact on the way in which politics is recognised or perceived by the Irish public and a wider audience.

There is a necessity, however, to put this report and the culture that existed 20 years ago in context, as they relate to the Fianna Fáil Party. The number of individuals found to be corrupt in the report, those found to be untruthful or to have considerable amounts of money in bank accounts associated with them, for which there is no credible explanation or the origins of which are open to question, form a very small percentage of the overall officeholders who have come from our stable. I only have to look to my constituency to see the calibre of these - people such as Brendan Daly, Tony Killeen, Síle de Valera and her grandfather, Sylvester Barrett, Paddy Hillery and Dr. Bill Loughnane. There were many others - those are just the people from my constituency who have held office, representing the party I now have the honour and privilege to represent. That is without referencing the thousands of volunteers associated with our party who have always gone about their business representing their community, focused on a vision of bettering the society of the people they represent and with whom they are associated.

I reject absolutely, therefore, the efforts of some to cast a dark shadow over the entirety of the Fianna Fáil organisation as a political movement and its capacity and potential to be a considerable force in and on the Irish political landscape in the years ahead. I reject that out of hand. It is a cheap shot by some. That is not in any way to diminish the work we must do to regain the trust of the people because of the sins of a very small group of people.

My colleague is right when he noted that the debate in this House has been largely partisan. Some have sought to characterise the entirety of the Fianna Fáil organisation, based on the actions of some, but they fail to recognise comments made by others. I recall what a former Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, John Bruton, said when he was questioned about the transgressions - as they were seen at the time - of some of his councillor base. I paraphrase somewhat. He said, "We are not all angels", as he sought to diminish or brush aside the concerns of people at the time. That is a parallel to what the former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, was mentioned for in the course of the tribunal.

Deputy Kelleher is right when he references Sinn Féin. I have no issue with people elected to this House where the public has full and open knowledge of their history but the current leader of Sinn Féin continues to deny his membership of the IRA as if there was somehow a difference, continues to deny his associated links with the disappearance of individuals in the past and continues to be belligerent about what he believes to be the transgressions of Fianna Fáil. I will accept the findings of the report in its entirety. Deputy Adams and others in his party continue to deny the past and draw a veil over it, suggesting they are in a position to cast judgment.

I heard the Minister on television last night and I am glad he is in the Chamber. In principle, I do not question the reasons that planning investigations in five counties were brought within the Department. I am sure the Minister had a valid reason for doing so at the time and indicated that the former Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, thought it more expeditious. The difficulty is the perception in the minds of some that there are problems in those counties and perhaps other counties. Sadly, because of the publication of the report and all that has flown from it, the Minister is left with no choice but to reinstate the level of activity that existed prior to his coming to office with regard to those investigations.

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