The programme for Government contains a commitment to "fundamentally change the relationship between Government and the Oireachtas, and with it the relationship between the Irish people and their parliament". It is more than two weeks since former Deputy Dara Murphy formally resigned as a Member of the House. He effectively retired from serving the people of the northside of Cork about two years ago when he accepted a role as campaign manager for the European People's Party, something the Taoiseach congratulated him on and wished him well. Last Saturday, the Taoiseach said in an interview that he would find a way to have an independent investigation into former Deputy Murphy's performance and his role as a Deputy. Despite a number of attempts by the Taoiseach to say to the Dáil that there were different mechanisms that could be used, within an hour of him saying them, they all turned out not to be based on any solid foundation. Under sections 9(3) and 9(4) of the Ethics in Public Office Act, there is a facility whereby the former Deputy could refer himself to the Committee on Members' Interests. Given all that the Taoiseach has said on the subject over the past while, has he actually asked his former colleague to refer himself to the Committee on Members' Interests under that legislation? If not, will he so do?

When the Deputy raised the issue of reform of the Oireachtas and restoring the people's trust in it, I thought he might have referred to Deputies Lisa Chambers, Niall Collins or Dooley, or perhaps even Senator Clifford-Lee, or some of his own party's Senators-----

Or Deputy Naughton, the Chair of the committee.

-----who featured in an RTÉ investigative report only last week.

Perhaps he will come back and comment on that at a later stage. They are all sitting Deputies and some of them will even be candidates in a general election for Fianna Fáil, which says a lot.

They are not double-jobbing.

In respect of the former Deputy, Dara Murphy, I am aware the provision exists-----

He kept it to himself.

-----and we have had some discussions with him about it.

Did the Taoiseach ask him?

I call Deputy Pearse Doherty.

I will come back to the Deputy on that.

I did not ask whether the Taoiseach was aware of the provision but whether he had asked the Deputy.

He has not asked him.

I asked a simple question and am entitled to an answer. Did the Taoiseach ask him or not? He is aware of the provision-----

But he did not bother asking.

The Taoiseach has been asked publicly about the matter, as has his party. I am asking him formally in the House whether he has asked Mr. Murphy to avail of the mechanism. It is a "Yes" or "No" question.

Does the Taoiseach wish to respond?

Both I and my advisers have discussed with the former Deputy, Dara Murphy, a number of options as to how an inquiry can be carried out. That is one of the options we have discussed with him and it is still a work in progress. There should be an inquiry and Mr. Murphy has agreed to submit to one. He should pay back any expenses if the inquiry finds against him.

I would like to know from Deputy Martin, given that I have answered his question-----