The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, hinted at further tax cuts in the next Budget. "Our achievements on the taxation front in this Government have been significant. The basic rate of income tax has been cut by four points in three years and now stands at just 22 per cent.

Don't be too surprised if it falls to 20 per cent in the December Budget."

She said the basic rate of income tax had fallen by 10 percentage points since 1990. "Nine of those points came off while the Progressive Democrats were in government. Only one came off while the Labour party was in government.

"The higher rate of income tax has been cut by four points also in the last three years, bringing substantial relief to hundreds of thousands of people on middle incomes. It has now fallen by 12 percentage points since 1990 and all 12 points came off while the Progressive Democrats were in government."

Ms Harney said that when all the tribunals and inquiries had completed their work and published their various reports, there would be a much clearer picture of the kind of State in which people lived.

"I do not believe that Ireland is a corrupt country. Corrupt countries simply do not set up tribunals and inquiries to investigate corruption. But that is not to say that Ireland is without corruption.

"The truth remains to be established, but it would appear that there were many powerful and influential people who felt that political access could be bought, who felt that political favours could be bought, who felt that even political representatives could be bought."