Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I will be brief as most of what I wish to say has been covered by the last two speakers in particular. The antics of Ray Burke in receiving corrupt payments for planning and the licence for Century Radio have destroyed trust between politicians and the electorate. When I hear people on doorsteps say we are all the same, it sickens me because we are not. I am not a corrupt politician, I have never taken a bribe, which is the case for the vast majority of my colleagues the length and breath of the country. That has to be said over and over again because of how we are perceived due to the likes of Mr. Burke. We are certainly not the same and do not want to be. The disservice to democracy and the body politic resulting from Mr. Burke's actions will never be forgotten and will go down as a disgraceful period in our history. Other speakers asked the reason Mr. Burke was appointed and the Taoiseach's words describing how we were hounding an honest man out of office will ring in the ears of many for years to come.

As has been stated, this is an interim report which means that many questions have yet to be asked and many answers have still to be given. Corrupt politicians, no matter from where they come, should be rooted out. I hope Mr. Justice Flood will flush out any others who were involved in similar activities to those of Mr. Burke. That is his job which he has handled excellently to date. One could use the slogan Fianna Fáil used in the recent general election campaign in relation to the tribunal's work and state there is a lot done and a lot more to do. That is certainly the case where Mr. Justice Flood is concerned. I wish him well in the rest of his endeavours to flush out the truth which is absolutely necessary in this democracy of ours.