THE PD leader was ruled out of order when she raised the evidence given by the Taoiseach to the Dunnes payments tribunal.

Ms Mary Harney asked if Mr Bruton was going to "avail of an opportunity in this House to deal with the conflicting statements he made under oath to two different tribunals established by this House".

She added that the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Dukes, had said on the previous night that he knew the evidence given by Mr Bruton to the Beef Tribunal in 1992 was incorrect, but he did not tell him because he was not speaking to the Taoiseach at the time.

"I never said anything of the kind", interjected Mr Dukes from the Government benches. Ms Harney said she had read a transcript of what Mr Dukes had said before coming into the House.

The Ceann Comhairle, Mr Sean Treacy, said raising matters relating to the tribunal was not in order.

When Ms Harney said that, perhaps, the Taoiseach would like to avail of an opportunity to set the record straight, Mr Dukes accused her of engaging in a soundbite.

Mr Treacy said evidence before the inquiry was, in his clear opinion, within the sole competence of the tribunal and could not be referred to in the House. "There is no right whatsoever to interfere in the internal affairs of that tribunal."

As Ms Harney continued to press the issue, Mr Treacy said the fact that the tribunal was established by a resolution of the House did not give the Dail a right to interfere in any way in its proceedings.

When Ms Harney asked the Taoiseach to respond to what she said, Mr Bruton replied: "I have responded publicly."