Both the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties have instituted inquiries to establish whether or not any of their members took money in return for votes on rezoning in Dublin County Council. The Fianna Fail Party leader, Bertie Ahern, has asked the Chairman of the party, Rory O'Hanlon, to immediately convene the Standards in Public Life Committee outlined in the party's Mandatory Code of Standards. The Committee is to seek to establish whether any members of the party are affected by the allegations made by Frank Dunlop. In a statement tonight Mr Ahern pointed out that the Code contains procedures for investigation of allegations of impropriety with potential sanctions up to and including expulsion from the party.
The Fine Gael leader, John Bruton, has again denied ever being told that the late Fine Gael councillor Tom Hand had asked for a bribe and said the lobbyist and former Government Press Secretary Frank Dunlop, who made the claim, was an "incredible witness." Speaking to RTÉ, he said his party has no evidence to suggest that any Fine Gael representative has done anything improper. He said he was setting up a three person inquiry team to interview every Fine Gael member of Dublin County Council at the time to ask them if they received any payments at the time or to ensure any payments received had no corrupt motives.
Mr Bruton has spoken to Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell about a news report that she knew of an allegation that the late party councillor Tom Hand had solicited a bribe. He has maintained that Deputy Mitchell had not brought the matter to his attention when it came to her notice. Mr Bruton said the issue was not a matter of priority at the moment. However he added that if this issue does raise questions of political judgement 'they can be considered as we go forward'. Mr Bruton also said he strongly supports the proposal to register lobbyists.
Against the backdrop of dramatic developments at the Flood Tribunal, the issue of political lobbying came before the Dáil today. The matter of regulating political lobbying was raised by the Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn, who said the matter needed to be dealt with urgently as it was "damaging the very fabric of the democratic process". He told the house that the Labour party was submitting a Bill regarding lobbyists for consideration.
The Taoiseach proposed that an Oireachtas committee look at drawing up legislation to regulate political lobbying and both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties have instituted inquiries, following Frank Dunlop's revelations. Bertie Ahern said he would be in favour of forming a committee to look at the problem. He said it would be a way of protecting public but pointed out that there would be difficulties involved in establishing such a committee.
