Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

With regard to the situation pertaining to Deputy Mick Wallace, his statement last Thursday morning on RTE that he knowingly under-declared VAT to the Revenue and the subsequent public debate that has developed, which has been very widespread and has been in all the main media since then, I put it to the Taoiseach that the scale of the issue is substantial. I know the Deputy offered to make a personal statement to the House. Obviously, it is appropriate to the Ceann Comhairle to make that call and he has made it - I accept that. However, it seems to me that the scale of the issue necessitates an opportunity for the House and its Members to give their views and perspective on it. I know there was a meeting of the Whips earlier in terms of motions and so on, and legal issues were raised. I make the point to the Taoiseach that, outside the House, the general view among the public is that people, irrespective of who they are, must be seen to be treated equally by the agencies of the State. That is a very strong view out there on this matter. It seems somewhat surreal and unreal that everyone outside of this House is discussing the issue, from "Liveline" to everywhere else, yet there seems to be some difficulty in facilitating a discussion or debate in this House on what is, irrespective of one's personal views, a very genuine issue that goes to the heart of society and how it is ordered and structured, and the role of the Dáil and the Oireachtas. Has the Taoiseach any thoughts on the timing or facilitation of such a discussion?

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