The Dáil has resumed its debate on a Government motion on the workings of the Mahon tribunal.
Putting forward the Government motion last night, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the Government was expressing confidence in the members, mandate and process of the Mahon tribunal, but he said it did not consider the tribunal was working appropriately within its terms of reference.
Mr Gormley said a new Bill will provide for more effective operation of all such public inquiries.
The Government motion urges the tribunal to continue its work and said it looked forward to receiving its report as soon as possible so that the Dáil could debate and deliberate on its findings.
It also condemned the leaking of tribunal documents as a breach of confidentiality and said it infringed the rights of those affected.
The motion also said it supported appropriate actions to investigate such leaks and went on to reaffirm the right of witnesses to engage in confidential correspondence with the tribunal.
In a debate on a Fine Gael private members' motion asking the House to reaffirm its confidence in the Mahon inquiry, party leader Enda Kenny accused Fianna Fáil of mounting "a sinister and orchestrated attack" on the integrity of the Mahon tribunal.
Mr Kenny claimed that, one by one, Fianna Fáil Ministers had queued to go on the airwaves to attack the way in which the tribunal was doing its work.
The Taoiseach, said Mr Kenny, had sought to undermine the tribunal, including accusations that it was trying to "stitch him up". He had complained on the public airways that he did not get the same fair hearing as other witnesses at the tribunal.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore renewed his call on the Taoiseach to resign. "The Taoiseach and his colleagues know that the only remaining question about his future is how long he can actually cling to power. His clinging on to office does him no credit."
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea attacked the Opposition, alleging their motion "is not about fair procedures or fair treatment. It is not about the expeditious conduct of the tribunal's business. It is about political invective. It is about using and abusing the tribunal process to do what it could not achieve by electoral or normal political means."
A vote will take place this evening.