I propose to deal with a number of related notices under Standing Order 31 from Deputies Quinn, John Bruton and Sargent. I propose to call on the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office. I first call on Deputy Quinn to state the matter.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
In accordance with Standing Order 31, I request leave to move the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific matter of public interest, namely the circumstances in which a cheque for £25,000, countersigned by the Taoiseach and drawn on an account into which money voted by the Oireachtas for purposes of the Fianna Fáil Party leader's allowance was paid, ended up in an account used for the personal finances of the former Taoiseach, Charles J. Haughey; the reason the Taoiseach did not disclose this matter or the fact that he was a signatory of this account when the matter of the Fianna Fáil leader's allowance was raised in the House on 10 September 1997 during the debate on the terms of reference of the Moriarty tribunal; and the need for the Taoiseach to make a full statement to the Dáil on the matter. A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, in view of the importance of this issue I hope that you will agree to my request.
I request that the business of Dáil Éireann be suspended to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely the revelation that the Taoiseach co-signed a cheque, made payable to cash from an account held by the Fianna Fáil Party which came under the control of accounts used for the benefit of Mr. Charles Haughey, knowing when he signed it that there is an obligation on co-signatories of blank cheques to know where the money is going; and that Dáil Éireann calls on the Taoiseach to publish the correspondence to which he has referred between him, his party and the Moriarty tribunal which he claims debars him from making a statement to Dáil Éireann correcting the record in respect of his misleading and incomplete statement on 10 September 1997 in view of the fact that he took that course in regard to Commissioner Flynn.
I wish to raise the following issue of urgent public importance under Standing Order 31: the need for a Dáil debate on why a cheque for £25,000 countersigned in 1989 by the then treasurer of Fianna Fáil and current Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, drawn from the party leader's allowances account was subsequently used by Mr. Charles J. Haughey for his personal benefit; why the Taoiseach failed to make this fact known to the Dáil on 10 September 1997 when the terms of reference for the tribunals were discussed; and, the urgent need for the Taoiseach to make a statement on the matter.
Having considered these matters fully, I do not consider them to be contemplated by Standing Order 31. Therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motions.