Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I too welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the final report of the Mahon tribunal. The findings of the Mahon tribunal highlight an old attitude within the life of the past Government and Fianna Fáil in general. The excesses that characterised the politics of the day is best compared to what is witnessed in the Third World, namely, politics of arrogance, impunity and cults of personality - anything but principles and accountability. We are told that when salt loses its saltiness it becomes worthless. This best encapsulates what has happened here to the politicians involved. When a politician forgets his or her mandate to those whom they have undertaken to serve, they become something else altogether - an abomination of the very essence of what a democratically elected politician in a republic should be. That is not news, nor is it what I stood up to point out.

It has been suggested by the Fianna Fáil Party that it should be judged by how it deals with the findings of the Mahon tribunal report and nothing else. The report describes a corrupt political culture that was incubated and cultivated by Fianna Fáil as the leading popular force in Irish politics over those years. It affected planning and brought this country to its knees. In the dying days of the last Government, Fianna Fáil was concerned not with the presence of the IMF or the difficulties faced by this country, but with how the Fianna Fáil organisation could be salvaged.

What Fianna Fáil does as a party in the wake of these revelations will say even more about that party's underlying philosophy. It is noteworthy that some of those closest to Bertie Ahern, who made their political careers in the shadow of his popularity, have been among the first to throw stones at him. The popularity of a leader involves more than the leader himself - it involves those with him and under him. We are the first to say no one is perfect. It is precisely because this is politics, rather than religion, that we can and must demand high standards of those who put their names on the ballot paper and are elected on the basis of what they promise. At one point in time, the politicians dealt with in this report claimed to be the best people for the job. They said they would work in the best interests of the people. Sadly, the findings of the Mahon report confirm they were involved in the absolute abuse of the ultimate political power and authority in this country. People have been badly let down.

The tribunal criticised Ministers who sought to undermine its work. It should be recalled that it was more than just criticism. In mid-November 2007, the previous Government sought to reintroduce a Bill that would have provided for the closure of tribunals. Not only did the judges have to listen to such criticism, but they also had to live with the real threat that the Government would close down the Mahon tribunal. Deputy Martin mentioned that the report did not name specific Ministers, but that is beside the point. The previous Government, supported by its public relations machine and its spin doctors, was collectively responsible for a sustained campaign of criticism and vilification of the tribunal. The aim of that campaign was to undermine the credibility of the tribunal and to defend the then Taoiseach, whose evidence was becoming more incredible each day.

We know that Fianna Fáil is grasping at straws at this point. It would like to assert that this conduct is generally continuing. It has even dragged the Taoiseach into it by suggesting he is part of this mindset or operation in some way simply because he once appeared on a platform with a certain individual. As a constituency colleague of the Taoiseach, I assure the House that this country is lucky to have Deputy Kenny as its Taoiseach. He cannot be accused of corruption or abuse. As he travels to represent Ireland abroad, we can draw comfort from the fact that no accusation of abuse of power can be levelled against him. This country cannot be revealed as a laughing stock because its current Taoiseach is operating only from a perspective of self-interest and greed, as the Mahon tribunal report revealed in the case of a former Taoiseach.

Many people are concerned that this tribunal cost over €300 million and took 15 years to conclude its business. They are keen to know what action will be taken on foot of it, given that there is a poor precedent for people to be brought to justice after tribunal findings are made against them. They can take consolation from the hope that criminal prosecutions will ensue in this instance and the Revenue Commissioners will take their just desserts from the people involved in this. People feel it most when they are hit in their pockets. The Minister, rather than the ordinary Deputy, is the person with the power. It is absolutely abhorrent for a Minister to abuse his power. A mechanism should be found in any way that is possible to remove pensions from those named in this report who receive those pensions by virtue of an office they formerly held. Just as we require justice to be administered, carried out and achieved in the banking system, we have a need to see some justice arising from this report.

The amount of money that has been spent on this process and the length of time it took are very much on people's minds. We need to revisit the proposal to give power to Oireachtas committees. People were misled when they voted against it in last year's referendum. Many people in the legal profession can take responsibility for that. Surely we can find facts without it costing the Exchequer hundreds of millions of euro. A mechanism other than a tribunal has to be found. It is regrettable that Oireachtas committees cannot inquire into the banking situation because last year's referendum did not pass. We are still in limbo. I hope we can examine the matter again to ascertain whether another avenue is available. We need to achieve transparency and find facts in a more expedient and economically efficient manner.

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