The Irish people must share some of the blame for the failure for so long to uncover how Mr Charles Haughey was funding his lifestyle, the Fine Gael spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Gay Mitchell, claimed.

The majority of people in the State knew that Mr Haughey was not funding himself from his salary as a public representative, said Mr Mitchell. "They share in that dishonesty themselves. The public, to a great extent, share in that dishonesty. It is time that we, as representatives of the public, were able to speak openly and honestly.

"I would say, and I am sorry if it causes any embarrassment, it is likely that a majority of farmers in the country who receive cash payments would do the very same as Mr Haughey or Deputy Lowry have done; the vast majority of grocers; dare I say barristers, who used to receive their cash payments before they had to make returns for VAT. What does that say about barristers who then became judges?

"Let us stop the hypocrisy. They did not expect more from the politicians because that is how they live life themselves. The vast majority of people in this House, and in the country, knew well over the years that Charles J Haughey was not funding himself through his political income. And let us at least admit that. The country is, in part, to blame."

He asked how the de Valera family had become owners of the Irish Press Group, and how "a particular Fine Gael family become owners of the Irish Sweepstakes". There had always been scandals in politics.

Ms Mary Hanafin (FF, Dun Laoghaire) said revelations of the unorthodox business practices of Mr Ben Dunne during the period of his stewardship of the Dunnes Stores group left the distinct impression that compliance with the provisions of tax legislation was viewed as an option rather than a necessity.

She trusted, she said, that the issue was being actively pursued by various State agencies and that the disclosed wrongdoing would be dealt with in accordance with laws enacted by the House. If, however, it should transpire that existing mechanisms were inadequate to deal with the disclosed and unacceptable practices, then she for one would have no hesitation in supporting the establishment of a further tribunal of inquiry into the activities of Mr Dunne and his former company.