Bitter Dáil exchanges on the fallout from the Flood report's condemnation of Mr Ray Burke are likely when the House resumes next Wednesday.
Announcing the details of a Fine Gael private member's motion yesterday, the party leader, Mr Enda Kenny, demanded that all of the political decisions made by Mr Burke during his ministerial career be investigated as a matter of urgency. "The finding of the investigations should be made public," he added.
He said that the public was now more confused and suspicious than ever. "I say now that the shadow over the Taoiseach's leadership is deepening and strengthening by the hour," said Mr Kenny.
He said his party would move the motion if the Government did not agree to an open-ended debate on the Flood report. The motion drafted by the front bench, including the environment spokesman, Mr Bernard Allen, and the justice spokesman, Mr John Deasy, who accompanied Mr Kenny to a Dublin press conference, condemns the Taoiseach's "failure to investigate comprehensively" the allegations made against Mr Burke. It also expresses regret at the approval given by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, to Mr Burke's appointment as minister for foreign affairs in 1997.
The motion calls for the setting up of an independent national land use commission, chaired by a High Court judge, to certify the validity of rezoning decisions in terms of sustainability and proper planning and development.
It further demands that the Minister for Justice establish a permanent anti-corruption office, armed with judicial powers, to compel discovery of documents and attendance of witnesses, to gather evidence in private relating to corrupt acts for the purpose of preparing prosecutions to be undertaken by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Mr Kenny reiterated his strong condemnation of the Taoiseach, adding that he had given "a grossly corrupt individual" access to power at the highest level at the heart of government. "That act casts a dark and deepening shadow over his primary role as Taoiseach, that being to appoint the Cabinet," he added.
Mr Kenny said he wanted to know the precise detail of the information in Mr Ahern's possession satisfying him that Mr Burke was suitable for high office. "I demand to know on what information he based his assertions in the Dáil that Ray Burke was 'an honourable man' being hounded out of office by unsubstantiated rumour, allegation and innuendo," he said. "On behalf of the people of this country, I ask Mr Ahern to tell us, as a matter of grave national urgency, if the former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, gave him evidence about Mr Burke's behaviour. If he did, what was the evidence?"
The Fine Gael leader insisted that Ms Harney, "who sold her party to the electorate as a watchdog, the conscience of a Fianna Fáil-led government," also faced questions about what she knew, and when, relating to Mr Burke.
Accusing Mr Ahern and Ms Harney of creating an "information maze", Mr Kenny said that Fianna Fáil was addicted to power. "The electorate will think on this," he added.
