The Ceann Comhairle ruled out a debate on the detail of events at the Mahon tribunal.
Dr Rory O'Hanlon said the House had set up the tribunal and, having done so, introduced a standing order stating: "A matter shall not be raised in such an overt manner so that it appears to be an attempt by the Dáil to encroach on the functions of the courts or a judicial tribunal."
He was replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, who said he did not think it proper that that the Taoiseach should have to wait an indefinite period of time before going to a tribunal and saying he was not present at the alleged informal meeting of Ministers and Mr Tom Gilmartin.
"This House is the supreme legislative body in the country, and that tribunal was set up by this House.
"If the Taoiseach knows he was not at the meeting in question, he should be free to say so, and he can repeat it at the tribunal."
Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) said that "were it not for the fact that the Virgin Mary made an inadvertent entry to the meeting, the poor man would think that he had gone made completely".
He asked if the Taoiseach's files and his investigation would "throw light on who the panhandler and enforcer was who was wandering the corridors of Fianna Fáil in February 1989, and putting the arm on Mr Gilmartin."
As Mr Higgins pressed the matter, he asked Mr Ahern if he would go before the tribunal. The Taoiseach replied: "I hope so. I have been looking forward to that for 5½ years." Asked when he would be appearing before the tribunal, Mr Ahern said: "I wish I knew that too."
