John Gilroy (Labour)

I wish to add my voice to the comments made by my colleagues on the deal made on the promissory notes which it seems will come our way this afternoon. This is a great day for Ireland. No matter which way one looks at it, and one can hold it upside down or inside out, the fact we will not pay €3.1 billion on Saturday week can only be seen as a good thing. We cannot overstate how important it is, not only from the point of view of saving money, which we will, but also the further flexibility it gives the Government and the improvement in our reputation due to it.

I call for a debate on ethics and corruption in Irish politics in light of this morning's Mahon tribunal report. Another Fianna Fáil leader has been disgraced. There are very few of them who have-----