Whats the storm about.

It was greeted with shock last week when it was “revealed” that Albert Reynolds stopped of in the Bahamas and how no one knew this. How it all seems a bit of cloak and dagger. And the way RTE put it.

In a statement this evening, the Fianna Fáil TD, Martin Mansergh, who was a special adviser to Albert Reynolds and accompanied him, said the trip to the Bahamas was a formal visit. However Mr Mansergh’s statement made no reference to the testimony about an unscheduled stop at Freeport.

It all seems that this Freetown bit was all a bit hush hush. Thing is it is on the Dail record from the 29th of March 1994

The Government jet was used throughout the visit. My itinerary involved engagements in New York, Chicago, Washington, and Hartford in the United States and Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas. On the occasion of the visit I was accompanied by the Secretary of my Department, the Government press secretary, the special adviser at my Department, Dr. Martin Mansergh, the head of the Anglo-Irish division of the Department of Foreign Affairs (US only) and my private secretary, all of whom had a role to play in the various engagements I had undertaken. For security reasons an officer of the Garda Síochána also travelled.

For most of the visit I was accompanied [1560] by my wife, Kathleen, with my daughter, Andrea, taking her place for the first part of it. Normal international standard of hotel accommodation was used throughout, with the exception of Hartford where I was the guest of the Governor of Connecticut at his residence. In relation to Freeport and Nassau, my wife and I and the delegation were guests of the Bahamian Government.

And what was discussed in the Bahamas is on the dail record as well on the 22nd of March 1994.

Taoiseach I paid a short official visit to the Bahamas at the invitation of Prime Minister Ingraham. I had a series of useful bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet. These discussions covered a number of areas where there is considerable potential for closer contact and co-operation between our two countries. I found that the Bahamian authorities believe that Ireland as a small island nation, and on the basis of some existing contacts, has much to offer in terms of development.

Mr. Barrett: The Taoiseach was on a holiday, he should stop trying to spoof us.

Mrs. Owen: Did he bring us back any grass skirts?

The Taoiseach: Sour grapes. Jealousy will get the Deputies nowhere.

An Ceann Comhairle: Let us hear the Taoiseach without interruption.

The Taoiseach: In particular, the Bahamian authorities are interested in availing of Irish expertise in regard to the structure and training requirements of the Bahamian public service, environmental protection, third level technological education, teacher training in maths and the sciences, training in broadcasting and the provision of duty free facilities. These areas of co-operation will now be actively pursued.

Mrs. Owen: The Taoiseach should have sent Deputy Seán Haughey there.

The Taoiseach: During my visit I attended a promotional function for the Irish Dairy Board, whose exports to the Bahamas are in the region of £1 million per annum. Arising from my discussions, the question of establishing diplomatic relations on a non-resident basis between [727] Ireland and the Bahamas will be explored.

Mrs. Owen: The Taoiseach got a bit of a tan anyway.

So if it on the Dail record that this happened then it is hardly that sneaky is it? Why couldn’t any journalist simply google the dail  records first time around?