Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I concur with the words of several members of the committee, not only in relation to Ms West and Ms Galligan's written submissions as read into the record here this morning but in their responses to questioning. Their testimony has been powerful. The most important aspect of all is that it is from the highest motivation of public service, and we acknowledge that. Certainly, Deputy Clare Daly and Senator Black will concur with me that, on the eve on International Women's Day, Ms West and Ms Galligan are a powerful duo and a credit to their gender and an example to us all, men and women alike, in public service.

I am delighted that we had the opportunity to host the delegates today. The picture I see is one where denial and obstruction have come into play. We see a culture that does not want to expose the fault lines at any cost and attention to this or that must be suppressed. When we had the senior gardaí with us, three weeks back I think, we were assured all 41 cases - I note the figure of 43, but 41 had specifically been pointed to between 2013 and 2015 - had been investigated. Those who presented were at pains to emphasise that point. It is a reasonable question to ask whether these cases, or even some of them - even one would be one too many - were appropriately investigated. It is the key question. We do not doubt that they have been investigated. However, the word "appropriate" is very important. We have all noted different reports where a suspicious death, or whatever else, has been reported on the news. RTÉ and other broadcast and print media will then report that the investigation has been upgraded to a murder investigation. The word "upgraded" has always stuck in my memory and it is the language used. I have always taken and believe I am right in saying the word "upgrading" not only as underscoring the tragedy of what has happened but also as reflective of the upgrading of the process of investigation to meet the needs of the particular case. Do Ms West concur that that is the key focus?