Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)

"Throughout that period, corruption in Irish political life was both endemic and systemic." If we were to put our finger on one piece from the Mahon report, that is the one line I would pick out from it. Of course, I would hope the Leader can find a way to facilitate a lengthy and thorough debate on the Mahon tribunal. It is difficult to be grateful in any way, shape or form for the Mahon tribunal, but for myself, as an investigative journalist who stood up and stated that business and politics were too close and who suggested time and again that there was corruption and deceit and that persons were telling lies, I am grateful for the Mahon tribunal because I can, at last, say that I was neither delusional nor mad when I said those things. When one says them and one is on one's own, or there are few saying them, it is difficult to go on believing that one might be right when everyone else around is saying one is wrong. It has taken far too long for this to come to this point and for the Mahon tribunal to have finally reported in this way, but I am grateful for that. I would ask for the debate and I would also further ask that the Leader might write to the Taoiseach to ensure the idea of having this review of the Constitution, either in the constitutional convention or for the Taoiseach to do it, would include finding a way to stop the pensions of those who, for want of a better way of putting it, are found wanting in the Mahon tribunal report and who draw their pensions from the State. If that requires a review or amendment of the Constitution, then that should be done. I ask the Leader to write to the Taoiseach with a view either to including it in the constitutional convention or to reviewing the Constitution and calling a referendum for such a change.