Dail Report:Ethics legislation is to be introduced shortly by the Government, Tánaiste Michael McDowell told the Dáil.
He said that the legislation, promised following the controversy relating to personal payments to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern when he was minister for finance, would be brought forward as "soon as may be". He added that the House would have an opportunity to debate it, and he urged Opposition deputies to relax.
Pressed by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Mr McDowell said that the Cabinet had approved the text of the Bill. "It is the next legislation that will come before the Seanad shortly and it will come before this House thereafter." There were heated exchanges between the Tánaiste and Mr Kenny, when Mr McDowell took Opposition leaders' questions in the Taoiseach's absence.
Mr Kenny suggested that it might be the last time Mr McDowell took questions as Tánaiste. He added that five years ago, Mr McDowell had "gingerly" climbed a lamppost in Ranelagh and said 'Single party government. No thanks'."
It was, said Mr Kenny, one of the pictures of the decade. "Will the Tánaiste outline what exactly he has done to prevent single party government, given that there is an endless list of broken promises in which he was involved?"
Mr McDowell replied that the people had chosen the Government on the last occasion, not him. "The people of Ireland will have the opportunity in the coming months to choose another government. Just like on the last occasion, I am absolutely confident that they will take a long, hard look at those [ Opposition] benches and say 'No thanks'."
He added that "Deputy Kenny will not be in a position to put questions to either the Taoiseach or myself after the election, not because he will be on this side of the House, but because of other events".
Mr McDowell said people sometimes forgot the situation which existed when Mr Kenny and a number of others around him were sitting at the cabinet table. He added that Labour leader Pat Rabbitte was sitting "at the high chair" of the cabinet table as a half-minister. Thousands of people were driven to the unemployment exchanges every week, he added.
Labour chief whip Emmet Stagg asked if it was in order to tell lies. After some exchanges with Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon, he said he would withdraw the word "lie".
As the exchanges continued, Mr McDowell said Mr Kenny had said on RTÉ Radio that his achievement for the Irish people was improving the St Patrick's Day parade.
Mr Kenny said he was glad of the history lesson from the Tánaiste. "That is irrelevant to where we are now. The Tánaiste is the deputy leader of the Government. As such, he is partly responsible for the 40,000 operations that were cancelled in the past two years.
"He is partly responsible for the 29,000 people who cannot meet their consultants because of endless waiting lists. He is partly responsible for the length of accident and emergency waiting times." Mr Rabbitte said that when the Rainbow government was kicked out in 1997, more than 9 per cent of people were unemployed, which was better than the 14.2 per cent unemployed in 1992 when the PDs were kicked out.
"I might have been on the high chair at the cabinet, but there is a good chance the Tánaiste will get the high jump from the people once more, as has been his habitual record."
