The following statement was issued by Fianna Fail yesterday. The Flood Tribunal on the 20th February 1998 issued an order for discovery and an order for production to the Fianna Fail party. There was nothing unusual in this and we understand that a variety of orders for discovery and inspection have been issued to a number of persons including other political parties.

The order for discovery dealt with contributions made by Mr James Gogarty, Mr Michael Bailey or any other person or company connected with them.

The tribunal also sought discovery of documents relating to the payment of any sums of money by Ray Burke to the Fianna Fail national organisation since the 1st of January 1989. An Affidavit of Discovery was furnished by the Fianna Fail party to the tribunal on the 1st April 1998.

At no stage prior to the delivery of the affidavit of discovery has the tribunal ever asked any questions of Fianna Fail in relation to Rennicks, the Fitzwilton subsidiary referred to in the Magill article.

Indeed, it was the Fianna Fail party who disclosed, through the discovery process, documentation in relation to Rennicks.

The affidavit, sworn on behalf of Fianna Fail, discovered documents, available to the party. The Fianna Fail party did receive, from Ray Burke, a contribution in the sum of £10,000 by way of bank draft. This was in the normal course of events, credited to the account of the party.

The following documents were discovered to the tribunal:

(a) An official party receipt made out in the name of Rennicks acknowledging receipt of a sum of £10,000;

b) An extract from the cash receipts book showing the contribution from Rennicks in the sum of £10,000; and

c) A photocopy of a compliment slip from Rennicks accompanying the donation which also bore the name of Ray Burke.

In the letter accompanying the affidavit of discovery sent to the tribunal, it was made clear that Fianna Fail would provide full co-operation to the tribunal.

Last week the lawyers for the tribunal contacted Fianna Fail's solicitors. The purpose of that contact was to arrange for inspection of the original of the documentation as discovered and disclosed in our Affidavit and as furnished to them.

Yesterday (26/5/98), the lawyers for the tribunal carried out an inspection of the original documentation as discovered. An official from the Fianna Fail party was also present at that inspection to give full assistance to the tribunal.

The Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader, Bertie Ahern TD, was not aware at the time Mr Burke made his statement in the Dail that the £10,000 paid to the Fianna Fail party by Ray Burke came from Rennicks. Mr Ahern TD was only appraised of this fact in the course of preparing the affidavit of discovery.