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

In the programme for Government there is a commitment that all parties to this agreement will operate on a good faith and no surprise basis for the term of the Oireachtas. There have been numerous questions in the past two years about arrangements with Independent Deputies in return for their support. When I asked recently about any deals the Government may have with Independent Deputies, the Taoiseach replied:

While there is no agreement or special deal with Deputy Michael Lowry or Deputy Seán Canney, they do support the programme for Government which they believe benefits the country and their constituencies. They generally vote with the Government . . . in the same way all Independent Deputies who support it do. That means that they are able to raise queries and issues, often related to their constituencies, on which we try to assist.

Therein lies the nub of the repeated questions. The Taoiseach is always at pains to say there is no written agreement between Deputies Lowry and Canney and the Government but there is certainly constant contact and the assistance that is provided for their constituencies is never discussed publicly. There are no records that we are made aware of so why does the Taoiseach continue to hide information about the unwritten deals with Deputies Lowry and Canney? We know Deputy Lowry has never voted against this Government or the previous one. Can the Taoiseach now commit to publishing information on the assistance given to Deputies Lowry, Canney and others, so that the unnecessary speculation can be cleared up in the interests of the taxpayers?

See this speech in context