Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will begin my brief contribution by saying I have no intention of personalising this issue. I have no particular axe to grind with the Tánaiste, even though we have fundamentally disagreed on several important matters. Nevertheless, I am convinced that there are critical issues at stake. It is worth recalling that this fiasco is merely the latest instance in a series of events that have brought the operation of the Dáil and our national Parliament into disrepute. Last year, we had "swing-gate" and "vote-gate". This year, it is leak-gate and the year is not over.

I acknowledge that the Tánaiste displayed willingness to come before the House last week. However, such actions on his part cannot and should not act as some kind of parliamentary absolution. The Tánaiste was the senior political officeholder in the land when he deliberately leaked the draft contract. He is thereby held to a higher standard, yet in the past week we have seen no meaningful action in terms of parliamentary or party political sanction. The Taoiseach and his Cabinet colleagues have backed him to the hilt but not one of them has been able to identify what sanction he should rightly face. A two-hour session facing questions in the Dáil cannot be the limit of his responsibility or accountability in this serious matter. If there was even the slightest hint of a sanction being applied before this debate, I would have a different view.

I am concerned about the lack of consistency with regard to sanctions. We have seen several Oireachtas Members already sanctioned this year and the year has not yet ended. The general public are asking politicians like me why there is no consistency in sanctions and a lack of consistency in this case. The lack of sanction in this case forced the hand of the Opposition. In that respect, the fault lies with the Tánaiste and the Government alone. On account of this fact and this stark reality, I will be voting no confidence in the Tánaiste.

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