THE TAOISEACH said he could not reveal the detail of correspondence between the Mahon tribunal and the Government.
Brian Cowen was replying to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who asked if the tribunal had requested the file on the purchase of the Battle of the Boyne site.
Mr Cowen said it was a question of appropriateness. "The requests for information from the tribunal were made on a confidential basis, and it would be improper for me to divulge the content of that correspondence."
Mr Kenny said there was a great deal of public information available on the file. One person had bought the site in 1997 for €2.7 million. The site was sold for €7.8 million two years later.
"Despite the fact that the Department of Foreign Affairs was opposed to the holding of such a commemoration, it was taken to a point at which the Taoiseach's predecessor [Bertie Ahern] requested that a meeting take place between the then minister for arts, heritage, gaeltacht and the islands, former deputy Síle de Valera, and Deputy Séamus Brennan to investigate whether it could be included in the millennium projects."
Mr Kenny said Mr Ahern answered one question on the matter when he was taoiseach, but refused to answer any others.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore asked why the Taoiseach was not more forthcoming. "What is preventing him from providing the information about a specific file that would confirm or deny what Deputy Kenny said?"
Mr Cowen said he had been advised that, for reasons of confidentiality during the private phase of the tribunal's work, he was prohibitied from going into further detail. Pressed further, Mr Cowen said the tribunals must deal with the issues more speedily, comprehensively and efficiently. He understood that the tribunals would conclude their public sessions this summer. "I look forward to receiving their reports and to getting on with our business here."
Mr Kenny asked if he had a view on Mr Ahern's comment that the workings of the Mahon tribunal were "low-life stuff". Mr Cowen said Mr Ahern had gone to court and was fully vindicated in respect of some of the issues put to him.
