Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I wish to clarify the point because the Senator seemed to misconstrue it. I agree it would be a good idea to have a discussion about the Moriarty tribunal. The report was released immediately after Christmas when both Houses were in recess and there was no opportunity for politicians to discuss the report. At the time of his statement on the matter, the Taoiseach indicated that everyone engaged in the practice of signing blank cheques during the period in question. I remind him that during the 1980s, which were not economically buoyant times, most people filled in cheque stubs and cashed cheques were returned to allow payees see how they had been processed. I am astonished that the Taoiseach, who was in Fianna Fáil Party headquarters at the time, did not know the destination of the cheques he signed.