Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I never cease to be amazed at the warm affection and motherly concern expressed by Deputy McDonald for the well-being and future of the Labour Party. I cherish it deeply and know that we are well liked and minded by the Deputy and that if we ever start to go astray she will, in a careful way, look after us.

We should await publication of the Guerin report, which is currently being redacted at the request of Mr. Guerin as a senior counsel. Many of the speculative questions which all of us in this House have will then be answered. The report will be published tomorrow morning and will then be in the public domain. Many of the reasons people did what they did, specifically the former Minister, Deputy Shatter, will become clearer when the report is published. As stated by the Taoiseach yesterday in response to a question from the leader of the Fianna Fáil Party, there will be a debate on the report, although not necessarily next week. That might be a bit premature. We should first all read the report which comprises 300 pages. When the debate will be held is a matter for discussion by the Whips. Let us await publication of the report tomorrow, which will answer many of the speculative questions that none of us can answer. I certainly cannot answer them. I do not propose to give a speculative response to questions from Deputies. That would not be fair to anybody.

Let us await publication of the report, which will provide clarification on many of the issues raised here and elsewhere. Following discussion by the Whips, a debate on the report will then, as indicated yesterday by the Taoiseach, be held.

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