Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Ceann Comhairle has very graciously acknowledged that there could be another interpretation of Standing Order 57(3).

He said he was going to summon the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, which is what the Sinn Féin Whip, Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh, proposed should happen. He did so in writing to the best of my recollection. To hide behind the Ceann Comhairle in light of his statement today defies any logic. I asked the Taoiseach whether there was correspondence from Deputy Alan Shatter with the Taoiseach or any agencies. He did not answer me and when I pressed him he gave me a grudging response. Let us compare that with what we have just heard today. I may have received this letter inadvertently but the Taoiseach said he did not know of any correspondence between the Ceann Comhairle and others. I have a copy of a letter supplied to me by the Ceann Comhairle to the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. This was discussed at Cabinet. Was the Taoiseach not apprised of it? I cannot recollect if the Ceann Comhairle wrote to the Taoiseach on these matters but Deputy Alan Shatter definitely did. What is the law firm to which the Taoiseach referred? It is Gallagher Shatter Solicitors. A response on behalf of the Taoiseach to Deputy Alan Shatter, showing the courtesy and relationship enjoyed between the Taoiseach's Department and a member of Fine Gael, states:

A copy of the draft Order, with the Terms of Reference attached, is included herewith for your information. The next step is for the draft Order to be presented to each House of the Oireachtas and that will take place shortly. The Government considers that the matters set out in the Terms of Reference are matters of significance public concern.

This is the correspondence between the Taoiseach and the Fine Gael backbencher, Deputy Alan Shatter. Is the correspondence and the context not also a matter of significant public concern? Was the Taoiseach not failing in his duty as Taoiseach in not answering the question I put to him about any correspondence he may have received from Deputy Alan Shatter or, as I carefully said, anyone acting on his behalf? Deputy Enda Kenny is the Taoiseach and I am a duly elected mandated Member of the Oireachtas. This party represents citizens. Is it not a matter of significant public concern for them that the Taoiseach failed to tell us and, by extension, the citizens that he had voluminous correspondence with Deputy Alan Shatter?

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