Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom gach dea-ghuí a ghuí ar Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUigínn, ar a chuairt stáit chuig an Bhreatain. Is cinnte gur ócáid iontach stairiúil í agus tá súil agam go mbeidh gach rath air. Ba mhaith liom freisin tréaslú le Martin McGuinness a ghlac leis an gcuireadh freastal ar an ócáid agus sílim gur céim dhearfach chun cinn í sin. I acknowledge that the Leader made great efforts in the past to make contact with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in the North to offer them an opportunity to speak in the Seanad. He certainly wishes that to happen at some stage. Perhaps the historic events occurring over the next couple of days will be an inspiration to move this process forward. Perhaps the Leader will use his good offices to explore the possibility once more. A debate here with both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister could be very useful. I hope they will accept the invitation this time around.

I welcome the fact that the commission of investigation into the Garda taping controversy will examine the circumstances surrounding the resignation of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and that it will focus on the Garda investigation into the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. That Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly will complete his final report by the end of 2014 is also to be welcomed. It would be useful, however, if we could have a debate on the terms of reference of the commission of investigation. I note that the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has said this examination is a missed opportunity in that the terms of reference effectively restrict Mr. Justice Fennelly to examining allegations of illicit taping in Garda stations and possibly in prisons. The council recommends that Mr. Justice Fennelly's terms of reference be amended to invite him to take account of two other reviews of An Garda Síochána and its oversight, namely the Cooke review into the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission bugging and the Guerin review into the whistleblower allegations. It might be useful for us to debate whether the terms of reference should be broadened and whether we might make that recommendation. Más féidir linn dul an bóthar sin, bheadh sé sin ar fheabhas.