How?

How?

It is utter gobbledygook. It is made up.

Go raibh míle maith agat. Happy new year to one and all. Today, the Taoiseach takes his first Leaders’ Questions and his Cabinet is mired in scandal. The two Deputies at the centre of these scandals - the former Minister of State, Deputy English, and the current Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe - reportedly received a round of applause for their efforts at last night’s meeting of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. Last week, Deputy English was forced to resign as Minister of State because …

I am not casting aspersions on anyone. I am simply asking the logical, reasonable questions that arise from the recent turn of events. The story as told by the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, lacks any credibility whatsoever. The facts, as they have been established so far, are that this businessman, Mr. Stone, made a donation to the election campaign of Paschal Donohoe. The fact is that this donation was not declared. It is also a fact that it was only years later, when confronted with the letter from SIPO, that the Min…

What is the Taoiseach's view of a Minister that flouts rules and laws like these?

Which was declared.

It is a farce.

It is not agreed. First, the obvious farce of a Minister who has recused himself from SIPO responsibilities presenting to answer questions on SIPO tomorrow is self-evident and it points to the seriousness of the situation in respect of the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. I raise the issue in that regard on "statements", it seems: a statement from the Minister followed by statements or reaction from other parties or groups. That is not satisfactory. What is required is for the Minister to present himself, set out his case…

No, that is not what is required.

If there was any doubt as to the Taoiseach's ambiguity, shall we say, around the need for accountability among his members and his ministerial team, he has certainly played his hand now.

The very idea that members of the Government - members of the Cabinet - would not present themselves here and make themselves amenable to reasonable questions from the Opposition is absolutely unacceptable. Try as the Taoiseach may to muddy the waters or distract, he will fail because ultimately he is in government. Members of the Government are the decision-makers and they are answerable to and accountable to this House and to the Opposition. We ask again that the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, take questions, as Deput…

-----as a member of Government.

Yes.

So make it.

I have broken no rules.

Wow.

That was not a political donation.

Across the State, tens of thousands of homeowners and tenants impacted by Celtic tiger building defects have been waiting to hear the Government plans for a redress scheme. They are living in apartments, duplexes and houses that have very serious fire safety and other structural defects. The cost of remediating defects for these homeowners and tenants, defects that they did not cause, can be up to €80,000 per home. I understand that a memo went to the Cabinet on this today. Can the Taoiseach confirm if a redress sc…

I begin by wishing an Teachta Martin all the very best as he exits the Office of An Taoiseach and his role at Cabinet changes. I wish you and yours a very happy and peaceful Christmas. For the past two and half years, we have debated the important issues facing Ireland and our people, and I have no doubt that you will greatly miss our engagements here on a Tuesday and Wednesday. I wish you well. In his speech, an Teachta Martin argued that this Government is successful and delivering. The rest of us must live in a …