Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also support the call by our leader, Senator Darragh O'Brien, to bring the Taoiseach here, not just to discuss the Fennelly report but also the serious allegations that have been made - and repeated yesterday by Deputy Mick Wallace in the Dáil - that the Taoiseach failed to act on a Garda whistleblower who is stationed in the Athlone area. This is despite the fact that the Garda met with the Taoiseach in his constituency office prior to Christmas. These are serious allegations. I am reluctant to say this because I think the Taoiseach is a nice man personally, but it is quite obvious now that he is refusing to answer direct questions that are being put to him. He is doing it on a regular basis with our own party leader, Deputy Martin, and he was at it again yesterday. It was quite obvious from looking at the exchanges between the Taoiseach and Deputy Wallace that he did not even attempt to address the specific questions being put to him.

We also have the Fennelly report. Several months ago, I put on the record of this House information that had come to me that an early morning phone call was made to the former Garda Commissioner Callanan by the Secretary General of the Department under the direct instructions of the Taoiseach, which prompted his resignation. These are also serious allegations that need to be teased out. It is incumbent upon the Taoiseach to attend this, the Upper House of the Oireachtas. It is not enough for him to hide behind his vast majority in the Lower House. He should answer questions that will be put to him here.

I also want to raise the issue of variable mortgage interest rates, which our leader, Senator Darragh O'Brien, raised here yesterday. What is the point of the Government, which represents the State, owning 99% of one of the major pillar banks and 15% of the other pillar bank? Yesterday, when our colleague Deputy Michael McGrath raised a motion on the variable mortgage rate issue, a junior Minister told the Dáil that the Government had no role. What are the directors doing there? They are supposed to be there in the interests of the people of Ireland. Even on a commercial basis, as directors in the State interest, they are holding a 15% equity in one bank and a 99% in another bank, but do they have any influence at all in the boardroom? Are they just turning up for the tea and biscuits?