Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said tonight he will cooperate with the Mahon tribunal even if it goes "on and on".
He was responding to reports at the weekend that the Government may seek to undermine the tribunal in framing a motion in the Dáil later this week.
Bertie Ahern
Fine Gael has tabled a motion calling on the House to reaffirm its confidence in the tribunal but the Government will table a counter-motion.
There is speculation that the Government motion will make reference to the length of time the tribunals have been running and to the cost of them to date.
Asked about the proposed motion today, Mr Ahern said: "I think it's a question for the Government to decide. We know that its cost a lot of money. We know they've gone on for decades. But I think from the Government's point of view, and from everyone's point of view, we just want to work them through to the end."
On whether Mr Ahern's questioning by the Mahon tribunal and the ongoing issues in relation to his finances had affected his and the Government's ratings in recent opinion polls, Mr Ahern replied: "I don't read it that way. I think what happens is a generalised question is put to people.
"There's only one allegation against me in the tribunal and that's...that I got money off Owen O'Callaghan. And the fact is, I didn't but they have to go through the evidence. But I will continue to cooperate and to work with it even if it goes on and on."
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said today the Dáil must pass a "full and unqualified motion of confidence" in the Mahon tribunal this week.
"I am concerned at reports that the Government intends to table an amendment or motion of their own that would offer only very qualified or limited support and which be designed to constitute a 'warning shot' across the tribunal's bows," he said.
"This, in my view, would simply be a continuation of the series of assaults on the integrity of the tribunal by Government ministers that we witnessed prior to Christmas."
Mr Gilmore said a "conditional" motion accompanied by a series of renewed attacks on the integrity of the tribunal could further undermine the tribunal, and perhaps make it very difficult for the three judges and their staff to continue their work.
"I fully share the public concern about the huge legal bills that have already accumulated and the potential final legal costs. But of course it was this Government that negotiated the level of fees for the legal teams and which has refused to do anything to bring them under control."
Mr Gilmore said there was "a particular responsibility" on the part of Minister for the Environment John Gormley, as the Minister with direct political responsibility for the tribunal, to "stand up to Fianna Fail" and ensure that nothing further is done to damage the tribunal.
Speaking to the media in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, Mr Gormley reiterated his confidence in the Mahon tribunal and said the Government partners would come up with a wording for the motion to be debated this week.
"I have always said that I have confidence. We, as the Green Party, have confidence in the tribunal. We continue to have confidence in the tribunal and it's a question now of coming up with a suitable wording," Mr Gormley said.
