John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Picking up on the issue of a technological university for the south east, will the Taoiseach indicate to the parties concerned that he is anxious that this process should be brought to a head quickly? I am from a county that neighbours Deputy Deasy's county and we realise how important this is for the south east. If the university is to go ahead, it is wrong that the participants in it should be dragging their heels by not submitting the applications. The Taoiseach mentioned a catheterisation laboratory and cardiac care. The Taoiseach needs to consider that, in the context of the second laboratory, the argument being made is for 24-7 care. This is an issue on which thousands of people have marched in the streets and it is worth pursuing.

With regard to inquiries, we have spent €74 million and the figure will probably double. Has the Taoiseach studied other ways of having these inquiries with the Attorney General and advisers in his Department? I appreciate his point that Deputies ask for all sorts of inquiries. While some of these inquiries are needed, they cannot be open-ended. It would assist in some of these matters if the Department of the Taoiseach undertook work on devising new ways of having different tiered inquiries. The inquiry approved by the Dáil into the death of Shane O'Farrell should be a public inquiry but it has been kicked into some other arrangement, much to the annoyance, dissatisfaction and disappointment of the family. There should be a new, cost-effective inquiry with a tight timeframe rather than going down the same old route all the time. Has any work been done on that? Would it be worthwhile to do some work on a more efficient and cost-effective approach?