THE Government will make a quick decision on the Price Waterhouse report on political funding by Dunnes, the Taoiseach said.

"We believe it is very important that there be a quick determination of the ultimate procedure to be used to get all the relevant information into the public domain, and that the final decision as to the form of that be taken quickly and not postponed," said Mr Bruton.

He believed the report was very valuable work, but it did not complete the inquiry as one would have expected. "But it has presented the raw material for an inquiry.

Mr Bruton said he thought, it was a matter of considerable importance that the cloud which was hanging over public life be dissipated quickly.

He believed that commissioning Judge Buchanan to do preliminary work was the right and most economical way. "At this stage, other methods may be necessary in order to bring the matter to finality and it is my determination that the matter will be brought to finality as promptly as possible so that everybody's reputation can be treated fairly."

Asked by Mr Dermot Ahern (FF, Louth) if he was suggesting that the Government intended to look at the tribunal route, the Taoiseach said he would prefer to confine what he had to say to the general statements which he had made. "From henceforth, we must move with expedition to get the matter finalised."

Earlier, the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, sought clarification on the procedures to be followed. "I said last week that I would like to get to the end of this. It seems to be that we are going a step forward and three backwards ... The report only names a handful. If we waited over two months to get a handful, how long are we going to wait to get a barrel-full?.

Are we not coming to where I started, a tribunal?"

He was conscious that in a matter of months, if not weeks, there would be a general election and he was not going to participate in a process where news was released in a drip, drip fashion. "I want to know the truth in this matter. I don't care what it contains."

Agreeing with Mr Ahern, the PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, said the procedures established by the Government to inquire into the Dunnes Stores payments was clearly a nonsense and was not going to go anywhere. The Compellability of Witnesses Bill was stalled and awaited Government amendments. Even when the Bill was passed, people would be entitled to challenge it legally.

"The only way we will get to the truth is through a tribunal of inquiry along the lines of the hepatitis C tribunal."

She added that this was the only way to lift the cloud which was hanging over public life in Ireland.

Mr Ahern said he understood that the affidavits which "the world and his brother" had been talking about for months - had not been given to Judge Buchanan. Perhaps the Taoiseach and the Government, with the Attorney General and all of the other legal aids which the State had, could find a way of dealing with the matter.

Mr Bruton said the compellability legislation had been known to be necessary by every government in the House since 1970. It was important that the legislation be enacted in a manner that was fair to everybody and did not allow "a star chamber" to be established in the House.