The Progressive Democrats would not have gone into Government with Mr Burke last year if they had known about the contributions to Mr Burke, the Tanaiste and PD leader, Ms Harney said.
Facing an inquiry of the kind proposed by the Government was, no doubt, a daunting prospect for Mr Burke, she said. If Mr Burke "had been more honest in his statement to this House on September 11th of last year, he might not now be facing the same fate as Mr Haughey and Mr Lowry".
Ms Harney said that Mr Burke had chosen his words with extraordinary care so as to ensure maximum economy with the truth, and most members of the House took them to mean that there was only one contribution of £30,000.
"Mr Burke," the PD leader declared, "knew that there was another in the same year, but he did not tell the House that.
"Weasel words, it seems, have a habit of finding their way into personal statements in recent times."