Shane Ross (Independent)

I am seeking a debate and wish to ask the Leader questions. Does he think it is significant that Mr. Drury, a director of Anglo Irish Bank, also happened to be patronised by the same Government, undoubtedly with the approval of the Taoiseach when he was made chairman of the RTE Authority? That is a powerful gift within the power of the Government. Does the Leader think it is significant that Mr. Gary McCann who was also present also happened to have been chairman of the Dublin Airport Authority, another position in the gift of the Government? We are not just seeing a pattern of the Taoiseach meeting Mr. FitzPatrick but also a pattern of extraordinary interlocking relationships. Mr. McCann just happens to have been - I presume this is significant - the chief executive and a member of the board of Smurfit with Mr. FitzPatrick at the same time. It is an extraordinary circle. What is so worrying is not that the Taoiseach met Mr. FitzPatrick on one occasion-----