Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his short reply. Two months ago on 6 May as the Government was being announced, I asked the Taoiseach to put on record, as he stated on numerous occasions inside and outside this House he would do, all the deals done with political parties, political groupings and each Independent Deputy. I presume the Taoiseach remembers that.

It would appear from the Taoiseach's reply today that the only deal made with any Independent, individual or grouping is the deal with the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan on University Hospital Waterford in the south east. I am trying to ensure we do not end up in a situation in the future of my having to accuse the Taoiseach of having misled the Dáil. There is much talk about new politics. Ironically, the Taoiseach's adviser was appointed without public analysis to a €275,000 per annum job.

I want the Taoiseach to guarantee to this House that neither I nor any other Member of this House will come into the possession of any documentation referring to other deals, understandings or agreements, despite that certain Members of this House are stating publicly that agreements or understandings have been reached. Will the Taoiseach guarantee this House that outside of what he has just read into the record, there are no agreements between any political entity, individual or otherwise and the Government, which is led by the Taoiseach? Should I or anyone in this House subsequently come into the possession of documentation that refers to such deals, obviously we will have to come into this House and ask the Taoiseach some serious questions.

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