Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I can spell it out if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle wishes.

People understand exactly what I am talking about, that there is a clique in society, a group of people who are not bound by the usual norms of this Parliament and who have looked after each other. What is even more galling is that they have been facilitated, despite the conflict of interest, by this Government on a number of occasions. Some have a lot more understanding of and specific details about the transactions and have highlighted some of them - my party leader, Deputy Adams, included - but they have not received the answers. The terms of reference which the Minister has produced may allow the judge to look beyond quite specific aspects but we are calling in our amendment for quite specific details to be part of the remit rather than an afterthought that might be, will be or shall be or whatever that judge decides. We are asking the Minister to include them in the remit and to outline a timetable for the reports because the case of Siteserv, which triggered this, is the most immediate case. We all know some of the details and some of the work may have already begun. While this is ongoing, we need to examine some of the other issues raised by Deputies in this House. It is only right and proper that this happens. It is also not only right and proper but it will recognise the public interest aspect because it is the public's money.

Michael Geoghegan suggested one of the Blackstone officials should be on the NAMA advisory board. Whether that is right or wrong, there is a conflict of interest but nobody seemed to step in until that question was raised in this House. These are major questions. Did the Minister not see that there would be a conflict of interest in the appointment of some people to advisory boards who were conflicted in some aspects?

The buck stops with the Minister because he is the Minister for Finance but was he aware of all the write-downs and all of the sweetheart deals that went on? The idea of KPMG acting as auditors, advisers and facilitators raises major questions about the Minister and the appointment by this Government of advisers. I remember very early on in this Government's term and in the run-up to the election, there was extensive criticism about the use of advisers by the Fianna Fáil Government but this Government seems to have extended the practice because there seems to be more advisers for every Minister than there ever was under a Fianna Fáil Government and I am not protecting or congratulating Fianna Fáil. The toxic relationship between the group that seemed to be looking after itself rather than looking after the public interest has never been fully investigated.

I wish the judge well when and if he takes on such an onerous task. I hope he will reach speedy conclusions and that the officials and civil servants will move heaven and earth to facilitate a quick report. It is pointless unless it is brought up to today. I ask the Minister again to use the little time he has before we put the motion to a vote and to look at the logic of the Sinn Féin proposals. He should accept that it is the same logic that forced him to at least put some motion before the House. We should go right up to today in terms of transactions and write-downs.

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