Does the Taoiseach accept that what we have heard over the past week further undermines his credibility and erodes his authority? We heard Mr. Padraic O'Connor last week giving sworn evidence which tears apart the carefully constructed accounts of the dig-outs that the Taoiseach gave to Brian Dobson on RTE in September 2006. We have heard claims from the former chairman of the national lottery that as Minister for Finance, the Taoiseach approved that body's involvement in the plan to build a casino on the Phoenix Park racecourse at a time when he publicly opposed the project. It was also at a time while the main Fianna Fáil fundraiser — and the Taoiseach's personal fundraiser — accepted a donation from one of the promoters of the project, coincidentally in dollars, in Manchester.

It appears to me that the Taoiseach is engulfed in all of this at present. All of this is taking place at a time when the country is facing very significant problems. We hear today that 500 people are to lose their jobs in Galway. There is a continuing problem with cancer services. We had the National Women's Council outside the Dáil today and there was a big meeting of the ICA last week, on cancer care services. There was a shooting in Finglas over the weekend, showing us that gun crime has not gone away. Also, there are reports of a decline in Government revenues and a tightening in the economy.

What proportion of time is the Taoiseach now giving to defending himself, as distinct from addressing the many problems the country is facing, which require his attention as Head of Government? Specifically, will he tell the House the dates on which he is due to appear before the Mahon tribunal again? I understand he is due to give evidence to the tribunal before Christmas. Will the Taoiseach tell the House what dates he is due to give evidence before the Mahon tribunal and for how many days he will be preparing for this? Does the Taoiseach expect to be before the Mahon tribunal again after Christmas? On how many occasions does he expect to be back before the Mahon tribunal before it concludes hearing evidence on the module it is now investigating?

I do not agree with Deputy Gilmore that it affects my credibility or authority, or that I am engulfed in anything. As I do most days, I spent recent days preparing and working with my colleagues on the annual budget which will be announced tomorrow. The answer to the question on time is that I did not time the press conference yesterday but perhaps six or seven minutes is the amount of time I spent on it. I am in the tribunal whenever the learned gentlemen of the tribunal ask me to be there on whatever dates are fixed.

Deputy Gilmore is correct to state there are a lot of serious issues and if he had raised any of them I was prepared to answer them as I have been involved in briefings, but obviously he opted to raise an issue about 1994.

I did not, I raised an issue about 2007. What dates will the Taoiseach appear before the tribunal?

I was not involved in any casino issue in 2007.

I did not ask the Taoiseach about 1994. The Taoiseach will have plenty of time to answer about 1994 when he goes to Dublin Castle.

I will not because, as far as I know, the casino issue has nothing to do with the tribunal. I was not asked about it at the tribunal. Deputy Gilmore raised that issue.

I did not.

He just did so, as he will see if he checks the record. Deputy Gilmore would be someone before the tribunal as he cannot remember what he stated two minutes ago.