Gov now deeply divided on attitude to Mahon Tribunal
Issued : Tuesday 15 January, 2008
Statement by Ciarán Lynch TD
It is essential that the Dail should have the opportunity to reaffirm its confidence in the Planning Tribunal given the continuing attacks on the Tribunal by government representatives and the deep divisions that are evident between government parties and within government parties on the issue. Earlier this month the Labour Party tabled a Private Members Motion asking the Dail to affirm its confidence in the Tribunal (copy attached).
The decision by Deputy Noel Grealish to join in the chorus of Fianna Fail attacks on a Tribunal of Inquiry established by the Oireachtas marks the death rattle of the PDs as a separate party with distinct values and his intervention was probably designed, in part at least, to facilitate his re-entry into Fianna Fail. It was very significant that Minister Harney refused to endorse his comments and clearly what is left of the PDs on this issue is deeply divided on the issue.
I welcome the comments by the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, that he has confidence in the Tribunal, but how can he possibly claim that the 'government has total confidence in it', given the unprecedented attacks on it by the Taoiseach and senior Fianna Fail ministers? Senior Ministers have accused the Tribunal of 'bias' and of 'acting outside of the law', which the Taoiseach himself has accused its questioning of being 'prying, prurient and irrelevant'
The concerted attacks on the Tribunal by senior government figures are clearly designed to undermine it and to deflect attention away from the very serious questions that have been raised about the Taoiseach's finances and his tax status.
We cannot allow a Tribunal of Inquiry, established by the Oireachtas, to be undermined by politically motivated attacks. The Dail must act to reaffirm its confidence in the Tribunal.
Fógra Tairisceana : Notice of Motion
"That Dáil Éireann affirms its confidence in the Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certain Planning
Matters and Payments appointed by Instrument of the Minister for the Environment and Local
Government dated the 4th day of November 1997 (following the passing of appropriate motions
by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann) and as amended by Instruments dated the 15th day of July
1998, 24th day of October 2002, 7th day of July 2003, 3rd day of December 2004 and by the
Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certin Planning Matters and Payments Act 2004 (No. 39 of 2004)."
