THE Taoiseach is scheduled to be the first witness when the Dunnes payments tribunal resumes this morning. Mr Bruton is due to be followed by three Fine Gael Ministers, Mr Noonan, Mr Yates and Mr Dukes, all of whom received political donations from Mr Ben Dunne.
Their evidence is likely to be overshadowed by developments in the afternoon, which the tribunal has allotted to discussing five conversations between Mr Haughey and Mr Noel Smyth, Mr Ben Dunne's solicitor. Mr Haughey has been asked by the tribunal if he wishes to make legal representations on whether the contents of these discussions should be revealed.
Last week Mr Dunne told the tribunal that he had paid over £180,000 to the Fine Gael party, and this was confirmed by the party's general secretary, Mr Jim Miley.
Mr Bruton will be asked to confirm his meeting with Mr Dunne in the latter's home in April 1991. At this meeting Mr Dunne handed Mr Bruton a cheque for £50,000, part of a donation he had already agreed with Mr Bruton's predecessor, Mr Alan Dukes.
Mr Dunne also agreed to give the party a further £100,000, which was duly paid in 1993.
Mr Dukes will be asked to describe his meeting with Mr Dunne at dinner in Barberstown Castle in October 1989, at which the parlous state of Fine Gael's finances was discussed.
This resulted in Mr Dunne agreeing to pay £30,000 a year to the party for three years. But in the event only the first £30,000 was paid, followed 1 1/2 years later by the £50,000.
Mr Yates and Mr Noonan will give evidence concerning the receipt of contributions to their personal election campaigns. Other TDs, including Mr Sean Haughey of Fianna Fail and Mr Jim Mitchell of Fine Gael, will also be asked to give evidence of contributions they received.
Other listed witnesses for tomorrow include Mr Peter Stevens, the architect of the extension to Mr Michael Lowry's home at Holycross, Co Tipperary.