Brendan Ryan (Labour)

We could resolve this issue. I have spent a good deal time saying I did not think there was a sinister motivation behind this move. However, the more this obdurate determination to ignore everybody else goes on, the more I am forced to change my mind because I cannot see any reason for the way things are being done other than the desire to cover something up.

The Government announced a substantial surplus of revenue of approximately €300 million over expenditure yesterday for the month of February. The Taoiseach would regard that as a small sum because that is what he said about the dormant accounts. However, his brother, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, would regard it as a very large sum, which is the reason he justified turning it into a slush fund. What does the Leader think? Is €400 million a big or a small sum? I would like to know.