The internal Fianna Fail inquiry into payments to its public representatives is expected to reach negative conclusions concerning at least two of its Oireachtas members, The Irish Times has learned.
The inquiry team is now attempting to have its report ready before next Wednesday's Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting. The committee worked all day yesterday on the report and will meet again on Monday.
Any serious negative findings against TDs could immediately provoke Government instability, arising from the Progressive Democrats' recently stated position on the matter. The party has said that anyone against whom a convincing case of wrongdoing has been made should be expel led from their party and asked to resign from the Dail. If this inquiry produces such evidence, clear action by Fianna Fail would be necessary to avoid a Government crisis.
It has been learned that the Fianna Fail Standards in Public Life Committee, which is conducting the inquiry, has met the Dublin West TD Mr Liam Lawlor at least twice to discuss substantial payments to him by the political lobbyist, Mr Frank Dunlop, and others.
The committee has also closely scrutinised the affairs of at least one other Oireachtas member. Mr Lawlor strongly denied to the inquiry that he received £40,000 in cash in a plastic bag in 1991. In evidence to the Flood tribunal, Mr Dunlop said he had made such a payment to an unnamed politician, and Mr Lawlor has confirmed that he is the person against whom that allegation was made. However, he is understood to have told the committee that he received a sum of just under £40,000 from Mr Dunlop in consultancy fees in the mid-1990s. This is a separate payment and does not affect his strong denial of the alleged earlier cash payment.
The Standards in Public Life Committee is also believed to be preparing recommendations for changes in the legislation concerning land rezoning. In particular, it is believed to be looking at regulating the role played by developers in the process.
While it will draw negative conclusions about some individuals, it could not be ascertained last night if it would make recommendations concerning disciplinary action, point to possible discrepancies in evidence or simply say that these individuals had not given satisfactory explanations for donations received.
The report is expected to be given next week to the Taoiseach, who will decide whether any disciplinary action is to be taken against any party member or members. Even if the report is ready for next Wednesday's parliamentary party meeting, it is not known whether disciplinary action, if proposed, will be taken that soon. The parliamentary party can expel its members, while the party's national executive makes decisions on whether members should be expelled from the party.
The five-member committee is chaired by Dr Rory O'Hanlon, the chairman of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party; its other members are the former minister for foreign affairs, Mr David Andrews, backbenchers Mr Michael Ahern and Mr Dick Roche, and party general secretary Mr Martin Macken.
The committee will work long hours to have the report ready for Wednesday. There is no parliamentary party meeting the following week due to a Dail recess.