Ahern switched policy on casino, FG claims

The Taoiseach privately promoted the Phoenix Park casino project in 1994 when he was minister for finance, but "when the issue became hot with local residents, he decided to switch tack in order to gain votes in the 1997 general election", Fine Gael environment spokesman Phil Hogan claimed during a heated second day of debate on the Mahon tribunal.

The Government, as expected, won the debate by 76 to 67 votes on its motion expressing confidence in the tribunal's investigation of planning matters; looking forward to the expeditious receipt of its report; calling for the enactment of the Tribunal of Inquiries Bill; and condemning the leaking of tribunal documents.

Insults were traded across the floor of the House as Government and Opposition deputies accused each other of politically motivated attacks and agendas in the Fine Gael-initiated debate.

Mr Hogan had revealed that Mr Ahern assisted Manchester businessman Norman Turner in gaining an Irish passport. Mr Turner wanted to develop a casino, football stadium and conference centre in the Phoenix Park in the 1990s and the Fine Gael spokesman read out details of documents released through a series of freedom of information requests. These included a Department of Finance file which noted that Mr Turner said he had received assurances from government ministers that there would be no problem "about the promotion of amending of legislation".

In one briefing Mr Ahern shared misgivings about the extent of gaming machines involved in the project, "but other than that issue there is no indication that he expressed opposition to the concept of the casino project", Mr Hogan said.

During the debate Paul Gogarty (Green, Dublin Mid-West) claimed that the only Fine Gael member to show leadership was former leader Michael Noonan, who banned corporate donations, but this ban was subsequently reversed.

"Fine Gael takes money from developers. You have the Galway tent. You also have the Punchestown tent. You should show some moral leadership and stop taking corporate donations. Maybe then you could start throwing muck."

In a staunch defence of Mr Ahern, Martin Mansergh, his former adviser, said that "the attempt to bring him down does no service whatsoever to this country and reflects poorly on the leadership substance of deputies Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore, whose parties were afraid of saying during the general election what they are saying now".

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said TDs assisted with passport applications, "but how many of us have provided such assistance to wealthy business people who also happen to be major donors to our parties and who also happen to be seeking political and planning support for multimillion euro projects such as casinos and conference centres?"

Lucinda Creighton (FG, Dublin South-East) said Government ministers had claimed the tribunal was taking too long, but "this attack has emerged only in the last six months when the Taoiseach went before the tribunal to give evidence in September and December. Before that we heard nothing from these Ministers."

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Martin Cullen said the "largest and most consistent attempt to undermine the tribunal has been from those who have sought to manipulate its proceedings in different ways, including through the near-decade-long selective leaking of documents".

He added that "the tribunal should also explain how it can justify bringing The Irish Times to the Supreme Court and threatening its journalists with jail over one leak, when no action is being taken to follow up the tidal wave of leaks printed by others.

"A circulation policy which all but guarantees these leaks requires either amendment or a better justification than has been provided."