THE Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, is to be asked by the Progressive Democrat leader, Ms Mary Harney, whether any other ministers besides Mr Michael Lowry availed of the tax amnesty and, if so, what were the circumstances.
The PD leader is tabling a series of questions arising from the Lowry affair and will be seeking answers from the Taoiseach when the Dail resumes on Budget Day, January 22nd.
She will also be asking the Taoiseach, in the light of his statement that all ministers made full disclosures of their interests to him, what disclosures would have disqualified them from Cabinet posts.
A Government spokesman declined to comment apart from saying that "if she tables questions they will be dealt with in the normal way".
A spokeswoman for the PDs said no member of its parliamentary party had availed of the amnesty.
Coalition sources pointed out that availing of the tax amnesty was a matter between the individual in question and the Revenue Commissioners.
The Taoiseach had asked ministers to declare their interests to him privately in line with the requirements which had since been enacted into legislation in the Ethics in Public Office Act. These requirements did not include disclosure that the minister in question had availed of the tax amnesty.
On a separate issue, a Fine Gael spokesman said there was no question of Mr Lowry's membership of the parliamentary party becoming an issue at present. The former minister was resolving his business and taxation affairs and he would also be appearing before the sub committee of the Dail Committee on Procedure and Privileges, set up to consider the Buchanan Report.
The report by Judge Gerard Buchanan into the Dunnes Stores payments affair is now expected to be completed by the end of this month. Senior sources said the report would be of "no use" to the sub committee until the Compellability of Witnesses Bill had been enacted into law. That would enable the sub committee to compel witnesses to attend who were not currently members of the Oireachtas.
The Bill is currently before a sub committee of the Dail's Finance and General Affairs Committee.
Government amendments were due to be discussed last week but the discussion was deferred to give the sub committee an opportunity to consult its legal adviser.