Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----because one should not give it in the first place. By giving it, one knows there are consequences in giving it, in particular in giving it to a lobbyist for a key party to the deal. Of course, that information was going to be used. He was keeping that party on side, no question. In terms of the ultimate decision, he took that decision but he gave confidential information.

I find it difficult that the Taoiseach finds it difficult to find the words to say this was a wrong thing to do. All he has to do, at the very minimum, is admit that what he did was wrong. One cannot have a personal position. He did not state he gave advice or that he told him that he would take advice". He said "I expressed a ... personal view" that the "likely course of action" was that it would be referred, not that it may be referred. Can the Taoiseach not differentiate between right and wrong? It is as simple as that, in terms of a decision like this. It is fundamental in terms of the approach of the Minister and the Government to all these basic issues. Does the Taoiseach accept it was confidential, by definition? He told the Dáil he had told nobody and he was going to tell nobody. However, he actually did.

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