Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will seek to do so but I am prompted to speak having listened to the Minister's response relating to the proposed amendments. In his response, he made general remarks about this Bill and the potential of any further inquiries emanating from it. We understand the Bill creates the ground rules under which inquiries may be set up in the future. We appreciate that and respect the fact that the Government spent the first year in office preparing for a referendum that it did not win. We respect the fact that it spent the next 18 months preparing this legislation, which the Taoiseach has put in jeopardy by virtue of what he said to this House last week. We respect the fact that there is a large scope involved.

The Minister said we were directed in our utterances and contributions by the recent news cycle. His obvious reference was to the Anglo Irish Bank tapes. This is disingenuous of him.

The sentiment of all Members of the House is that the Office of the Taoiseach is one of privilege and great honour is bestowed on the holder by the House and, by association, by the people democratically. It is quite distinct from the role of leader of Fine Gael. The Minister's reluctance to elaborate on the specifics relating to any such inquiry which may be established to pursue the banking question seems to indicate he does not agree with what was alleged here last week when the Taoiseach stated there was an axis of collusion between those in my party who held office in government and Anglo Irish Bank.

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