The Minister for Finance, Deputy Quinn, has given me notice in writing that he wishes to make a personal explanation. I have decided to permit the Minister to make the statement.
Financial Resolutions, 1995. - Personal Explanation by Member.
Yesterday the Taoiseach replied to a question from Deputy Cullen on leaking budget information. In his reply the Taoiseach indicated that he understood there was no record of any investigation by the then Minister for Finance into the extensive leaks which took place in either 1990 or 1994. This was based on information supplied by my Department in response to a query from the Taoiseach.
On checking the matter further my Department now finds that in 1990, at the request of the Minister for Finance, a limited investigation did take place in the Department of Finance and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. This consisted of the officials most closely involved being asked whether they could shed any light on the source of the leaks. No breach of budget security in this Department or in the Revenue Commissioners was found as a result of this inquiry.
I regret that incorrect information was given to the Taoiseach yesterday and that based on this he inadvertently misled the House. I wish to take the earliest opportunity to put the record straight. The position about the 1994 leaks remains as indicated by the Taoiseach — there was no investigation into those leaks.
On a point of order——
There is no point of order, Deputy; as the House knows full well — I had to mention this recently — when a personal explanation is given no comment may be made.
Gross hypocrisy.
On a point of order, a Deputy is entitled to make——
The Deputy should please resume his seat.
(Interruptions.)
There can be no comment on the matter now.
May I raise a point of order?
No, you may not.
Why?
Not on a statement.
On a point of order, when someone misleads the House usually it is the person concerned who comes in; they do not hide behind someone else.
If the Deputy wishes to raise that matter, he should raise it in another way.
This is disgraceful and yet another example of the way the Taoiseach is treating the House with contempt.
This is gross hypocrisy.
(Interruptions.)
As the Taoiseach misled the House will he explain the matter to us?