Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is legal analysis but that is a major flaw. Will findings of fact be made against anybody in an inquiry? Are we wasting our time? I am not suggesting that findings of fact should be made against former Ministers but they have said they will take part in this inquiry. Is the purpose of this Bill really to have televised hearings in the run up to the local elections? We will then find out it does not work. Political charges will be flying around the place, as they have been in the past while. They have been flying around. The Taoiseach started the ball rolling. He started the auction with his remarks about the axis of collusion. He started it and we are then told as the Government rows back "Oh that's merely a political charge."

In this case, the charge will be investigated by those making the charge. That is the wrong way to do business and a breach of fair procedures. If the Government is serious about this issue, it should start from the top. The Taoiseach should not be throwing around these political charges against individuals and members of the last Government. If something has gone wrong, let us have a commission of investigation or a tribunal of inquiry that can actually make these findings. If the charges made by the Taoiseach are correct, they should be properly investigated and if people have done wrong, there should be findings made against them. However, it seems they cannot be found against under this Bill so it seems a waste of time. The theory is abroad that this is will be on television and will be fascinating but will, ultimately, before the next local elections will have been found not to have worked. This is because there will be so many problems because it will be so loose and certain people will not attend. Politicians and former politicians have all said they will attend. They will all be there so the political arguments will-----