I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his introduction. I remind him of the precedent of 10 June 1987 when the then Taoiseach proposed on the Order of Business that the Standing Order be set aside for a discussion on a matter that was before the courts. I will abide by the Ceann Comhairle's ruling.

Everyone in the House and throughout the country is acutely aware of the damage being done to public confidence and the democratic process by the torrent of revelations emanating from the various tribunals set up by the Oireachtas, which were also aired specifically in the public media last weekend. In particular, people are disgusted by the litany of wrongdoing exposed by numerous former and current colleagues of the Taoiseach's and the way in which these people appear to have been privately accommodated and protected by Fianna Fáil. We remember the debates and the actions of Messrs. Haughey, Burke, Lawlor and Foley and Deputy Collins. Will the Taoiseach take this opportunity to give straight answers to straight questions?

Given that unresolved allegations remain, on what basis did the Taoiseach re-admit my constituency colleague, Deputy Cooper-Flynn, to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party? Did he receive an unequivocal commitment from her that she was never involved in any way in facilitating or promoting tax evasion? Did the Minister involved at the time, the former Deputy Pádraig Flynn, ever say he would repay the £50,000 at the centre of this controversy?

Can the Taoiseach confirm to the Dáil if it is true that the Mahon tribunal wrote to him on 18 November last and in December about documents that he had told the House were being sent back to the tribunal in 1999? Can he tell the Dáil when these documents were sent back to the tribunal? If the Taoiseach did not receive such a letter, is it now his intention to sue the newspaper involved, as he chose to do in the "Starry" O'Brien case, to protect his integrity?

The Deputy asked two questions. Deputy Cooper-Flynn will make a statement to the House regarding the allegations about her that have appeared in the media. Like everybody else, she is entitled to make that statement. She is neither above nor below the law. Most people would accept that she is entitled to due process and that there should be full accountability.

What is the Taoiseach's view of this?

Deputy Deasy is not the leader of his party.

Neither I nor anybody else should rush to judgment until we have all the facts. Allegations were made previously. Deputy Cooper-Flynn appealed her case and it was on that basis that the Fianna Fáil Party re-admitted her to the parliamentary party following the general election. We await the result of that appeal.

On the second issue, I will speak later when I will explain about the documentation I received. In answer to Deputy Kenny's question, I did not receive such a letter from the Mahon tribunal, either personally or through my legal advisers.

The Taoiseach has not answered the two questions I asked him. Will he explain the criteria he applied in re-admitting Deputy Cooper-Flynn to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party? The Deputy is being singled out for exceptional media treatment for her work as a financial adviser at that time. Am I to take it that the Taoiseach's re-admission of the Deputy to the party was on the basis of an appeal to the Supreme Court?

Is it the Taoiseach's intention to sue the newspaper involved to protect his integrity not just as a citizen and as a public representative but as the Head of a Government which holds the Presidency of the European Union? Arising from that, will the Taoiseach explain to the Dáil the statement of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the media over the weekend to the effect that he had been aware of the serious allegations against the Flynn family for some time? How did this information come into his possession? Did he carry out an independent investigation? Did he discuss this with the Tánaiste or the Taoiseach? How long has the Taoiseach been aware of these allegations? If he is and has been aware of them, what does he propose to do about them?

As I said, Deputy Cooper-Flynn is neither above nor below the law. Most people would accept that she is entitled to due process and that there should be full accountability. Neither I nor anyone else should rush to judgment until we have all the facts. Deputy Cooper-Flynn took a civil action for defamation and we are aware of the outcome. She subsequently chose to appeal the decision. Her position as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the previous general election was in accordance with party procedure. I understand that her appeal is due to be heard shortly and I do not want to say anything that would prejudice that.

Regarding suing the newspaper, I have never sued a newspaper in my 27 years in this House and I do not intend to do so now. Deputy Kenny asked me a third question.

Was there an offer to pay back the £50,000?

No offer was made.

Allow the Taoiseach to speak.

I want to do my best to answer all of the questions. Everybody was aware that allegations were being made against Deputy Cooper-Flynn. That is why a whole module of a tribunal is examining the issues.