Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

It is unique that we are here in the Dáil dealing with Estimates for the Department of the Taoiseach when the Taoiseach is a missing person in this debate. These Estimates always come before the committee that oversees and holds the Department of An Taoiseach accountable, which is the committee on finance, public expenditure and the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach only presents himself before the committee on rare occasions. It has to be noted that the Taoiseach has refused on a number of occasions to come before the committee. The Minister of State said she offered to attend in his stead, but the committee made it clear that it wanted the Taoiseach in to discuss the Estimates of his Department, for which he is accountable. On numerous occasions, the committee offered to be flexible in relation to the Taoiseach's diary. This is one of the functions of the Taoiseach in relation to his Department.

It is understandable, given what the Minister of State has outlined, because these Estimates only contain one significant change, and it relates to the gift that keeps on giving - the Moriarty tribunal. Since the last time we dealt with the Estimates, we now have, pulling the strings of Government, the star of the show of the Moriarty tribunal, the one and only Deputy Lowry, who, as we know, has been found by that same tribunal to be involved in corrupt practices in relation to his time as a Minister.

The Estimates do not relate to a small amount of money but to millions of euro in additional costs that have to be paid out as a result of that tribunal. When we boil it all down, it is as a result of the actions of Deputy Lowry, who is now the glue that keeps the Government in place. He is the person who ensured that the Taoiseach was appointed to the position he is in. I am sure the Taoiseach did not want to sit across from members of the finance committee having to answer questions, which he has now evaded and avoided by not coming before the committee to tease out the ongoing issues in relation to the Moriarty tribunal and its ongoing costs, and to find out where this ends. We know from some public discourse, for example, that the legal case has been settled in relation to Deputy Lowry and his costs, who claimed in the region of €2.8 million. I do not know if that is the final line under the amount. We understand from media reports that Denis O'Brien has also received his costs of €5.8 million. I am not sure if there are further costs or if there is anything in dispute.

The Taoiseach has gone into hiding on this matter. It is little wonder that even his own backbenchers are biting at his heels due to his non-attendance at meetings when he is neglecting one of the key functions of his duties, that is, to present Estimates. Here, he is seeking millions of euro extra from the Houses of the Oireachtas to continue to pay out for a tribunal that had to investigate the king-maker of his own Government. He is in dereliction of his duties in this regard. In his absence, I ask what the running bill is because this is probably not even the final bill at this stage.

Where are we now in relation to the costs of the Moriarty tribunal? How much has Deputy Lowry saddled the State with? The Irish Timesreported, maybe earlier this year, that the cost was €83 million. Now we are looking at Estimates here of an extra €3.4 million. There is some - €3 million - already budgeted. Are we now up at €90 million? Are we in the ballpark of the original figure, speculated 15 years ago, that this could even run as far as €100 million? These are the questions the Taoiseach should be answering, if he was not running scared of these issues. He should be before the finance committee tomorrow, the next day or the day after that. We have offered flexibility in relation to him presenting.

I am a passionate advocate for the committee system and I believe the committees should flex their muscles more. It is not appropriate, regardless of any precedent going back 15 years, for a Chief Whip to step in for the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach should present himself before the committee. Ministers should present themselves before the committee. Junior Ministers who have no responsibility for the Estimates that are before a committee should not be standing in for the Taoiseach or, indeed, any other Minister. I have had the privilege in the past of dealing with Estimates with the former taoisigh, Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar, and others. The Taoiseach should have been here to deal with these issues, despite the fact that he might be a wee bit red in the face given that core issue here, in terms of the millions of euro extra that is required, is a result of the actions of the person who put him on the Taoiseach's seat in the first instance.

See this speech in context