Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is timely that I am making my submission after my Sinn Féin colleague. I welcome the fact that the leader of Sinn Féin, Deputy Gerry Adams, took up my point in the Dáil yesterday when addressing the Taoiseach. I raised this issue in the House last Tuesday, when I called on the Minister for Finance to seek the taped telephone conversations from all the State bailed-out banks up to and including the point when the banks received a bailout from the State and I reiterate my call in that regard. In light of the Anglo Irish Bank revelations and the possibility of further tapes getting out into the ether, it is important to get the Minister for Justice and Equality into the House. It is important to discuss and debate the possibility of making it a criminal offence to mislead the Government or any State authority on matters of national interest. I would welcome a debate on this at an early point, possibly before the end of term.