There were noisy and heated exchanges between Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and Green Party TDs during a debate on alleged corruption in local government.
Dan Boyle (Green Party, Cork South Central) challenged Mr Roche to clarify his claim that the party's environment spokesman, Ciarán Cuffe, had suffered from amnaesia in order to cover up some criminal act.
The minister said he would not withdraw a remark he had not made. Mr Cuffe said that he had suffered no amnaesia about his dealings and fulfilled every aspect and letter of the law.
Eamonn Ryan (Green Party, Dublin South) said it was totally inappropriate for the minister to "equate inheritance shares from your mother with taking a bribe, and that is what he is doing".
Mr Roche also engaged in heated exchanges, frequently inaudible, with Sinn Féin TDs, with the minister asking Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF, Dublin South Central) what "your cronies were doing out in Bray".
Earlier, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said it was often said that the Irish people were suffering from tribunal fatigue. "It is true that many people have switched off, but that does not mean that people have forgotten or have absolved those involved in planning corruption. Far from it.
"They have confirmed the corrupt relationship between developers, property speculators and the establishment political parties in this State."
Fergus O'Dowd (FG, Louth) said he was sick of being lectured on corruption by Sinn Féin. "Do not put yourself on the high horse of integrity."
Mr Roche said that the Government, since it was first elected in 1997, had done more to tackle corruption than any Government since the foundation of the State. "Dream on," remarked John Gormley (Green Party, Dublin South East).
The Green Party motion deplored "the culture of alleged corrupt planning and rezoning that had resulted in urban sprawl"and called for an end to acceptance of funding from developers as it might be construed as having an undue influence on development decisions.
Mr Roche accused the Green Party of engaging in "a blatant attempt at political point-scoring", adding that it was seeking to pre-empt the ongoing work and ultimate findings of a tribunal of inquiry established by the Oireachtas. "They also seek to tar almost all politicians in the main parties of this State as criminals or closet sympathisers."
Earlier, Mr Gormley claimed that some years ago, a Fianna Fáil backbencher had rolled his eyes to heaven when the Green Party TD told him he would not take £30,000. He added that he had been given information by the late Liam Lawlor, but he was not going to abuse Dáil privilege and reveal it.
Mr Gormley said that Tánaiste Mary Harney, as a member of Dublin County Council, had proposed or seconded seven motions with Mr Lawlor for section four approval or material contravention of the county development plan.
