Before the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of related notices under Standing Order 31 from Deputies John Bruton, Rabbitte, Quinn and Sargent.
Request to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
Under Standing Order 31 I move that the Dáil sitting be suspended to allow the Taoiseach make a comprehensive statement on his knowledge of the Fitzwilton plc donation to Mr. Ray Burke in 1989 and the dealings of the various Departments in which Mr. Burke served as Minister with companies associated with Fitzwilton plc before and after that donation.
I have already given notice of my intention to request leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific matter of public interest, namely, the disclosure in Magill that the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ray Burke, received a further donation of £30,000 in June 1989 from a subsidiary of Fitzwilton plc in addition to the similar donation from JMSE; that £10,000 of the donation passed on to Fianna Fáil headquarters came from the contribution of Rennicks Manufacturing rather than the JMSE contribution; the adequacy of the investigation carried out by the Taoiseach into the financial affairs of Mr. Burke prior to his appointment as a Minister; the links, if any, between the Rennicks donation and public policy decisions; and the need for the Taoiseach to make a comprehensive statement to the House on his investigations into and knowledge of these matters.
I seek leave to adjourn the Dáil to discuss the entire implications for the House of the article published in Magill.
I seek to have the business of the Dáil suspended to allow the Taoiseach make a clear statement on the disclosure in Magill which exposes inconsistencies and misleading statements made in the House.
Having considered the matters fully, I do not consider them to be contemplated by Standing Order 31. Therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motions.
I give notice that I have submitted a Private Notice Question to the office of the Ceann Comhairle on the same topic and I earnestly request that he allow it in view of the serious nature of the matter.
The Deputy's request will be considered.