Last month, I asked the Taoiseach if Fianna Fáil had initiated a full investigation into the misappropriation of an estimated €500,000 in donations to that party, ostensibly made but which, importantly, did not find its way into party coffers.

What about the money from the bank in Navan?

In his reply, the Taoiseach stated that——

How come the SDLP spent just one tenth of the amount Sinn Féin did on the election in the North?

Deputy Ó Caoláin to submit his question without interruption.

The Fianna Fáil committee on ethics was precluded by the party from pursuing these matters until the tribunals had concluded and reported on their work. What is the Tánaiste's view of this strange decision by her partners in Government? Does she agree a political party should not investigate the misappropriation of its own funds pending the outcome of a tribunal's report, although the tribunal has nothing in its terms of reference which cover the matter of the misappropriation of party funding and cannot make findings in its report relevant to it?

For the Taoiseach to claim he received the advice of senior counsel——

The Deputy's party should have carried out a few investigations.

Deputy Ó Caoláin without interruption.

——that Fianna Fáil must await the outcome of the tribunals strikes me as strange to say the least. Is the Tánaiste equally as incredulous of this advice as I and so many other Members are?

The Deputy's party should investigate itself.

Does the Tánaiste recall that the Taoiseach confirmed to her in 1997 that, as she told the planning tribunal in May 1999, in June 1999 JMSE gave £30,000 to Ray Burke, only £10,000 of which went into Fianna Fáil coffers? Does the Tánaiste recall being subsequently told by the Taoiseach that the information he had given her was not accurate?

Why was it acceptable to the Tánaiste in 1997 to go into Government with a colleague in the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs who clearly had more interest in his own affairs than those of this State and its external relations?

The Deputy has gone well over his two minutes and has now gone beyond three minutes. I ask the Deputy to give way to the Tánaiste.

Why was it subsequently also acceptable for the Tánaiste to continue in office with the Taoiseach who had clearly misled her at the time?

How much money did Martin McGuinness get in America last week?

What I find incredible is the neck of Deputy Ó Caoláin.

Hear, hear.

Will the Tánaiste answer me?

I am here to respond on behalf of the Government, not to comment on the funding arrangements of any party. That is not a matter for me in my position as Tánaiste.

The Tánaiste is here as a spokesperson for the Government.

Sorry, Deputy Ó Caoláin, allow the Tánaiste without interruption.

Exactly. I am here to speak for the Government. I am here to deal with Government business, not the private funds of any party, including other parties in Government. At a time when my party was accused of demanding heads between 1989 and 1992, virtually everyone in the country was critical of the role of the Progressive Democrats for being harsh and uncaring and constantly looking for resignations. It seems to me we can never get it right.

The party has not been looking for enough resignations.

If the Deputy's party lies down with dogs——

Allow Deputy Ó Caoláin without interruption.

The Tánaiste's relationship with the Taoiseach in the past seven years has taught her one lesson, namely, how not to answer a question on the floor of this House when it is put directly to her. She has refused not only to answer the questions of Members in the House but those which many throughout the country would like to put.

With whom in the Progressive Democrats did the Tánaiste discuss all the matters I referred to this morning? Did she discuss them with Deputy McDowell in his capacity as Attorney General during his term in office? Has she discussed these matters with him since in his role as president of the Progressive Democrats? Is it not the case that, contrary to the high moral ground which the Tánaiste and the Progressive Democrats like to claim, it amounts to nothing against the party's eagerness and anxiety to be in power for power's sake, which is the real driving force behind the party and the Tánaiste herself?

I will not take any lectures about morals or integrity from the Deputy or his party.

Hear, hear.

That concludes Leaders' Questions.

How did Sinn Féin spend ten times more than the SDLP on the Assembly election?

Can the Ceann Comhairle direct the Tánaiste to answer the question?

Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31——

The Tánaiste has again refused to answer the question.

Sorry, Deputy I ask you to resume your seat. The Chair has no responsibility for the answers given by Ministers.

Are you not responsible?

No. I am not responsible and I ask the Deputy to resume his seat or I will have to take appropriate action.

Whatever appropriate action you take, I ask that you——

Why are there never any leadership crises in Sinn Féin?

I will have to ask Deputy Ó Caoláin to leave the House if he does not resume his seat. If the Deputy does not resume his seat he will have to leave the House.

I will not give the Ceann Comhairle that satisfaction.