Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a good idea, and I am certainly open to it. A number of matters about it would need to be considered. It was considered by the Law Reform Commission back in 2005 in its report on public inquiries, including tribunals of inquiry. The report pointed out a number of advantages of a permanent inquiries office such as that suggested by Deputy D'Arcy including that over time, its staff would become very experienced in investigations and would be paid salaries rather than a daily rate, resulting in very substantial savings.

Second, the office would have easy access to precedents and experience based on past events and guidance on procedural issues. It would provide a one-stop-shop for people seeking information on inquiries. It also lists the disadvantages, including that there are a number of inquiries at present and there is no guarantee that there will be a need for similar bodies in the future. Clearly, we have that now. Public inquiries are ad hocbodies by their nature, and their structure and personnel should reflect this. The commission weighed all of these matters but it did not recommend the establishment of a permanent standing inspectorate. However, it recommended the establishment of a central inquiries office that would be charged with collecting and managing a database of records and information in respect of public inquiries. This would provide those charged with establishing and running public inquiries easy access to those precedents and experience, including legislation, procedural issues, the drafting of terms of reference and administrative matters. That report was back in 2005, the year after the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 was enacted. Since then there has been a diverse range of commissions of investigation into a range of topics.

To be honest, I am open to considering that idea. I have always thought it might even have the capacity to carry out a scoping exercise as to whether a commission of investigation or a public inquiry might be necessary on issues of serious public concern. Any decision to have a permanent inspectorate or a central office would have to have regard to the experience gained in the intervening period as well as the Law Reform Commission giving updated assessments.