Ahern to tell Dail which tribunal can deal with Burke issue

Legislation to allow either the Flood or Moriarty tribunal to examine issues arising from the latest controversy concerning donations to Mr Ray Burke are expected to be agreed at a Cabinet meeting this morning.

Details of the measure will be announced in the Dail later today, when the Taoiseach addresses an Opposition motion criticising his handling on the controversy.

The Attorney General will advise the Cabinet meeting on the preferred course of action, briefing members on contacts made over the weekend with Mr Justice Moriarty and Mr Justice Flood.

Under Government legislation passed in the Dail only a month ago, any broadening of terms of reference can only happen following requests from the chairmen themselves.

A Government spokesman would not be drawn last night on which of the inquiries was more appropriate to deal with the matter, saying only that the Cabinet would take a course of action to deal with "any allegations out there" arising from the latest revelations.

Fine Gael continued to argue that the Moriarty tribunal was best suited to deal with the issues arising from the Rennicks donation, although a spokesman said the party had an open mind on the matter.

The only option that was being ruled out last night was that of a completely new tribunal. The Government spokesman said this option was available, but it was felt there was no public appetite for such a move.

The Government could also accept an Opposition Bill which would give the Dail the power to initiate changes in terms of reference, provided they did not infringe the rights of persons who had co-operated under existing terms.

A call for Dail time to be provided to debate the Bill is part of the Opposition motion which Mr Ahern faces later today, but having argued strongly against this approach when pushing its amen ding legislation through the Dail in April, it appears unlikely the Government will change tack.

The debate begins at 5.30 p.m. and is scheduled to last three hours. Mr Bruton will speak first, followed by the Taoiseach, who will move an amendment to the motion, outlining the Government's proposals for dealing with the controversy.

A vote on the Government amendment will be taken at 8.30 p.m.

Mr Ahern is due to fly to Vienna tonight for a meeting with the Austrian Prime Minister tomorrow, to seek support for Ireland's stance on EU structural funds, but he will remain in the Dail until the vote is taken.

The Opposition motion, jointly sponsored by the leaders of Fine Gael, Labour, Democratic Left and the Greens, calls on the Taoiseach to explain why he did not inform the Dail or the Tanaiste when he became aware of the Rennicks donation in mid-March.

It also demands a statement outlining the extent of his inquiries before appointing Mr Burke as minister for foreign affairs last June, and again in September when the donation to him by JMSE became public.

Finally, it calls on the Government to make time available for debate on an Opposition Bill which would allow the Dail to amend the terms of reference of one or both tribunals, without a request from either chairman.