Legislation to cap expenditure in local and European elections should be brought forward without delay, according to the leader of the new Labour Party, Mr Ruairi Quinn.

During final speeches by party leaders at the end of the two-hour debate, Mr Quinn said the "sins" committed by former members of the Dail had reflected very badly on all current TDs and there was a "collective obligation" to address that very quickly.

He called for the committee looking at ethics in public office to complete its work urgently and asked the Taoiseach to give priority to any necessary legal changes, "because of the scandalous nature of the revelations which have done this House no good whatsoever".

Mr Quinn thought it significant that the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, chose not to speak in the Dail on the controversy and had left the chamber for the party leaders' speeches.

"She has declined on behalf of the Progressive Democrats to offer any view from that party as to the level of satisfaction, trust or otherwise that exists between her party and Fianna Fail."

The Labour Party leader concluded after the questions and answers in the Dail that it was now a matter "for the tribunal to establish what the facts are".

It was now clear that the political culture of 1989 was "repugnant and scandalous to this country in 1999".

The culture of 1989 was once again being revealed by the assertion of Mr Gilmartin, and the clear belief that the Fianna Fail party shared Mr Gilmartin's assertion that £50,000 had been given to Mr Flynn.

He accepted that the Taoiseach had no option but to answer the allegations made against him and other members of his party about being at meetings.

Defending the Opposition's reaction to the controversy, Mr Quinn said that once the allegations were made "we had no choice but to respond in the way that we did here today".

He was also satisfied that the search for records would continue and would, when found, be passed on to the tribunal.