Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 April 2011
3 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach in view of the findings of the recently published Moriarty report in relation to a former Minister (details supplied), if the Government intends to reconsider the recent arrangement it made with the Deputy to gain his support; if he will reveal the precise nature of that arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6024/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government does not have any agreement or arrangement in place with Deputy Lowry.
I do not want to go over all of the ground. Obviously, it has been well covered.
I can assure the Deputy he will not be allowed go over all of the ground. Would he put a supplementary?
In fairness, the Ceann Comhairle should not cut across me all of the time. I am entitled to ask a question.
Of course you are.
I am on the list for this one.
Ask the question, cuir an ceist.
There is no help needed up there either.
There are matters arising from the Moriarty tribunal debate that were not satisfactorily answered which are to do with the here and now. The Taoiseach stated there was no arrangement. Did the Taoiseach meet Deputy Lowry or did any member of the Government, formally or informally, meet Deputy Lowry in the context of him making a decision to support Deputy Enda Kenny's nomination for Taoiseach and support for the Government? Were there any meetings of any description and were any undertakings given or agreements or tacit agreements made between the Government and Deputy Lowry which led to him supporting Deputy Enda Kenny for Taoiseach and supporting the Government?
Other issues arose out of that, such as the issue of the problem of corporate donations to political parties.
That is nothing to do with the question.
It arises out of the Moriarty tribunal and the issues related to it.
We are not discussing the Moriarty tribunal.
That is in the question, if the Ceann Comhairle looks.
I am looking at it all right, Deputy Boyd Barrett need not worry.
Is it in line with satisfying public concern about the issue of corporate donations to political parties, given all of the findings of the Moriarty tribunal, that the Government should tell us what corporate donors——
This is Question Time.
——gave to Fine Gael Party funds over the past year?
Would Deputy Boyd Barrett resume his seat? I am on my feet. This is Question Time. I will not tolerate this. There are others who have questions down——-
I have my six minutes.
——-and I will not allow it be destroyed by not providing time for their questions to be answered. When I ask the Deputy to co-operate, will he please co-operate? This is nothing to do with the content of the Moriarty tribunal.
It is the question.
It is not. The question was whether an arrangement was made with the Deputy in question, and the reply was "No".
I repeat that there are no arrangements, formal or informal, made with the Deputy named in Deputy Boyd Barrett's question. I might remind him that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources sent the Moriarty report to the Revenue Commissioners, the DPP and the Garda. I have already asked the relevant Departments to respond within four weeks in respect of implementation of the recommendations in Moriarty and as Deputy Boyd Barrett will be aware, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has listed the introduction of a comprehensive Bill dealing with corporate donations as a priority for this session. Once the Departments respond in respect of the recommendations of Moriarty, we will proceed with that.
Were there any meetings?
I would extend the courtesy of the House to every person who was elected here. There were no meetings. There is no arrangement, formal or informal, with the Deputy named in Deputy Boyd Barrett's question.
