Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

In the past 24 hours it appears the Government is at sixes and sevens on the future of the Mahon tribunal. When is the House likely to have a debate on the Moriarty tribunal? When the other House debated the matter yesterday, the Tánaiste, who once campaigned with the slogan "One-Party Government? No thanks", refused to use his speaking slot. The tribunals were established by the Oireachtas, which means they do not belong to the Government or even to one wing of the Government. As they are accountable to the Oireachtas, they report to it. When will the Government make its position known and end the schism within the coalition parties about the future of the tribunal?

Most Members of the Oireachtas feel that two issues need to be resolved at this stage. I refer firstly to the spiralling costs of the tribunals, particularly the colossal and unjustified fees which are being obtained by certain people on foot of their performances at the tribunals. The former Minister, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, promised more than three years ago that he would rein in those fees, but that has not happened. I refer secondly to the decision to appoint two additional judges to the Mahon tribunal, the intention of which, as I understood it, was to facilitate the undertaking of three simultaneous investigations at any given time. I was under the impression that the three judges would not preside over a single module of the investigation. Will the Government make a definitive statement on this issue? I would like to hear the Leader's views on whether the Government has an agreed position.

I would like to mention the wise words we heard yesterday from a former Senator and Supreme Court judge, Mrs. Catherine McGuinness. She advised the Government and all politicians not to rush the children's rights referendum because the various issues need to be carefully thought out. Given that the Government will not be able to introduce the legislation to facilitate the referendum before Easter, would it not be wise for all the political leaders not only to agree a wording for the referendum, but also to agree to set a date for the referendum in the autumn? It would be useful to reach agreement to have the referendum well after the general election, regardless of who is in government at that time, in order that the issue of children's rights does not become politicised during the shenanigans which will inevitably take place between now and May or June.