Fianna Fáil's internal ethics committee has adjourned its inquiry into the €130,000 tax settlement by the Limerick TD, Mr Michael Collins, pending the outcome of a separate investigation by the Standards in Public Office Commission.
The chairman of the parliamentary party, Mr Seamus Kirk TD, said he would ask Mr Collins to keep the committee informed about any developments in the investigation by the commission. Mr Collins had informed the committee on October 23rd that he would be co-operating with it.
The former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Chris Flood, who was appointed to investigate the case on behalf of the committee, has also suspended his work.
Mr Collins resigned the party whip in the Dáil in September after it was revealed that he had defaulted on tax obligations connected to a bogus non-resident account.
The committee adjourned on the basis that Mr Collins's first obligation is to the Standards in Public Office Commission. It is understood that the commission is waiting for legal advice on Mr Collins's case before proceeding.
In a separate case, Mr Kirk said he was waiting for a response from the North Dublin TD, Mr G.V. Wright, who has been asked to provide it with an update about evidence at the Mahon Tribunal by the former government press secretary, Mr Frank Dunlop.
Mr Wright, who appears at the tribunal tomorrow, is known to be denying Mr Dunlop's allegation that he conspired to mislead the tribunal.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary party passed a motion calling for any increase in the education budget next year to target disadvantage.
