I do not want to ask the Taoiseach questions about the former Minister, Mr. Ray Burke, because that matter is before the courts, but I want to focus on the Taoiseach's track record. After all, he castigated the Opposition for hounding an honourable man out of office so it is important that he go back to last week in the Dáil when we asked him about a meeting he had with the head of Royal Dutch Shell. He told us, very interestingly, that he has had "a fair few meetings over the years that might border on the unethical, but I am not guilty of it in this case." The interesting question, which we did not have an opportunity to ask at the time, is what exactly does the Taoiseach regard as unethical. He told us that the code of ethics here is that once you are elected to Dáil Éireann you stay in Dáil Éireann.

Beyond that, has he attended any other meetings that might be considered unethical? Did any of them involve, for example, Mr. Gilmartin? Did any of them involve the Sweepstakes? We saw a recent "Prime Time" programme on the Sweepstakes which went back to the 1970s and 1980s. Is it not strange that any candidate could call to the offices of the Sweepstakes in Ballsbridge and ask for his or her election deposit? I know times have changed, but the Taoiseach was a Deputy for nine years before the Sweepstakes ended and he received the annual report year after year, as did every Deputy. Did he ever suspect at the time that there was anything unethical about its operation? Can the Taoiseach look me in the eye and tell me that after he became Minister in 1987 there was no procurement project in which he was involved that was not clean and above board? It is important we know that.

I will not remind Deputy Sargent of some of the nice things he said about people when they were appointed Ministers. I will not get into that because these matters are before the courts. I recall the day I spoke about Shell and I will tell the Deputy what I was referring to. When people want to invest in and bring employment to this country, they want to know if there is political interest and if the country is stable—

The Taoiseach told us that. I raised another matter.

The Deputy asked me a question and I want to tell him not just about that meeting but others. I would always take an interest in these matters and meet people. The best Governments all over the world, with the highest ethical standards, do that.

As regards the issues I referred to which bordered on the unethical, in my involvement in Northern Ireland I sometimes felt less than comfortable meeting people who had been involved at first hand in acts which make me feel uncomfortable. However, in the interests of the peace process I continued. That is what I meant that day. If the Deputy wants me to spell that out I can do so, but I would rather not.

I got a limited answer so I take it that if the Taoiseach had more time he would have told me more about the 1970s and 1980s, during his time as Minister for Labour and so on. It is important we have a clear understanding of the Taoiseach's approach to corruption. We had an exchange in the Dáil in which the Taoiseach tried to put us in a league – he said there are cases involving trillions and that we are not in that league, that there is a way to deal with this and that it cannot go on forever.

I want to be clear on where the Taoiseach stands on this issue. The Berlin-based Transparency International group has said that Ireland is more corrupt than 17 other countries. Of course, most other countries that are corrupt are poorer countries in the developing world. That league was compiled before the tribunals report so we do not know what the future holds in that regard.

Is it not time that clear political leadership is given to the ending of corruption, not just in terms of statements but of removing rezoning windfall profits, reforming the planning Acts, giving more resources to the EPA, given the amount of illegal dumping, and allocating more resources to the Garda, given the promise of an extra 2,000 gardaí? Are these not matters that must be seen in action rather than in words?

I believe in democracy, the rule of law, human rights, the suppression of terrorism and good governance. I do not think Ireland is a corrupt country.

Does the Taoiseach believe in tribunals?

Issues must be investigated but compliance with tax, welfare and justice legislation in Ireland is high. We are nowhere near the league of countries considered to be corrupt. We are not in the same zone and the fact that former office holders and other people in society are dealt with under legislation shows how fair and honest is this country. The Deputy's line is not right.

It is not my line.

With regard to my political life, I worked in the House at a time when there was almost 20% unemployment. I have always worked to find ways of investment. One does not grow jobs on trees; one attracts foreign direct investment.

They probably grow on trees.

Jobs are created in an up front way and they are not driven out. We should be proud of what we have achieved in creating wealth and jobs and solving issues.

The Taoiseach could drive jobs in here.

Hear, hear.