Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Taoiseach comes to the House this morning to explain his extraordinary claims in the Dáil yesterday that he intends to delay the banking inquiry until such time as the Government parties have a majority on it. It seems alarming that the Taoiseach has chosen to tamper with the democratic process in such a way. The Curtin inquiry, of which older and younger Members will recall, did its work in an exemplary non-partisan fashion. The DIRT inquiry into the non-payment of the tax by the banks over the years is another example of where the late Deputy, Jim Mitchell, and his colleagues did an exemplary job in a non-partisan fashion. One must wonder then about the necessity for the Taoiseach to tamper with the political process in such a dictatorial and authoritarian manner. Whether it is a case that the Taoiseach dropped the ball with loose language yesterday or if it is in fact an underhanded sinister attempt to manipulate the democratic process, the public is entitled to an explanation. This House is an appropriate forum for such an explanation.

It is also important we get the Labour Party’s perspective on this. While there is a leadership struggle going on within the party, the public is entitled to know if it stands over such tampering with the democratic process, particularly considering it was party to the legislation establishing the banking inquiry and the procedures and rules that govern it. Yesterday, the Taoiseach stated he intends to change that process because, as he said, “I do not know what your Members would do”. That is the profound insinuation that he must have a majority on the inquiry to ensure his terms of reference are those that are followed, not those as intended under the Act by the democratically elected Oireachtas.

We feel this is the most serious of matters. It requires the Taoiseach’s clear explanation. At the same time, the people are also entitled to know whether Labour is party to this dismantling of the democratic process and if it stands over the Taoiseach’s dictatorial tampering with the democratic system.