THE Government is to ask Dunnes Stores for details of the Price Waterhouse report, the Tanaiste told the House. Mr Spring was replying to the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, who said the company had appeared to say it would give information voluntarily. "If there is agreement in the House from all the parties in that respect," said Mr Spring, "we will certainly have a communication with the family in whatever form is considered the most suitable." Earlier, he said he had not seen the report, nor had he spoken to anybody who had seen it. The Government was looking at a number of possibilities and was seeking legal advice relating to the Companies Act.

There were other possibilities, ranging from public inquiries to a committee of the Dail. What was important is that facts in the report relevant to the public interest should be made available as quickly as possible. There was a need to "clear this cloud off politics once and for all", he said. There was a "pall of suspicion" about, with media headlines that £5 million had been paid to politicians.

The matter was first raised by the PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, who repeated her proposal that an inspector be appointed under the Companies Act to investigate the matter. "I think it is fair to say that a cloud of suspicion hangs over everybody for as long as this report remains a secret document." If the powers under the act could not be used, there should be a judicial inquiry, she added.