The Minister's colleague, Deputy Joan Burton, has called on the Government to review contact with Mr. Denis O'Brien. The Minister of State, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, shares those concerns. She was critical of his attendance at the global Irish economic forum last October. It seems the Taoiseach takes a different view, beaming as he was in a photograph with that individual. I ask the Minister to set out his position on this matter and the position of the Government.

For my personal perspective, there should be a consequence for those well-known people, or not, against whom adverse findings are adduced by a tribunal of inquiry.

Is that the Government view or Deputy Howlin's personal view?

That is my view. It is an important point to bear in mind. The Taoiseach was invited to a particular function, he did not issue invitations. Others were also invited.

What about the Global Irish Economic Forum?

None of us can control the people who are photographed with us.

Regarding the invitation to the Global Irish Economic Forum, the invitations issued replicated those who were invited to the first forum.

Stop.

That is weak.

There were adverse comments about the attendance of Mr. O'Brien and we must all reflect on that. I saw the glad handing of a former leader of Fianna Fáil at a party conference and we will now see who shuns him. We must all make personal decisions and the Government must make its decisions about any individual against whom adverse findings have been made by a tribunal established by this House. I agree with the Deputy in that regard.

The answer is not clear.

He agreed with you.

The Minister said there should be consequences for people against whom adverse findings have been made and that the Government must take a decision. What is that decision? After a week debating the Mahon report, the Government seems ambivalent, confused or maybe compromised about its position on genuine consequences and genuine reform. What is the Government view of contact with Mr. O'Brien? Is there a division on this matter? I refer to the fiasco around Deputy Phil Hogan, not just the household charge but also the shutting down of legitimate inquiries into planning issues across local authorities-----

They are not shut down.

We cannot go into a separate issue.

-----which is further evidence of ambivalence-----

We can only deal with one topic. Deputy McDonald is over time.

What is the position of Government in respect of Mr. Denis O'Brien?

What about Sinn Féin's pals?

I will first talk about our reaction to the Mahon tribunal.

We will not. That is a separate issue entirely. We are talking about Mr. O'Brien.

I understood the question was about the adverse findings of the Moriarty tribunal and the Mahon tribunal and how we deal with people against whom adverse findings have been made.

We must have one topic at the time. Does Deputy Howlin understand my position?

I do but I hear a scattergun approach to questions and would like to answer them.

It is a straightforward question.

I have outlined my view on Mr. O'Brien and on anyone against whom serious adverse findings have been arrived at by a tribunal of inquiry. The Cabinet has not discussed the list of people to be shunned if that is what Deputy McDonald is asking about. If future invitations are to be issued, I am sure those matters will be discussed at Cabinet.

Does Sinn Féin shun those who were bombing and shooting people for 30 years and caused mayhem on this island?

What about Deputy Shatter's friends in Israel?

If this behaviour does not cease, I will suspend the sitting.

It all started over there.

I ask Ministers, in particular, to show an example. I will suspend the sitting if this behaviour, on both sides, continues.