Dr. Fergal Lynch:

I was not aware the commission was refusing specifically to release information of that kind. Nevertheless, while I again stress I do not purport to speak for it, I know the commission was anxious to keep the information it had within the bounds of its investigation until it issued its final report, which is normal. I see the commission, essentially, as a form of a court, so anymore than I would not go to a court of law asking for information of that kind, the Department and I have not asked the commission to issue information of that kind.

We try, however, to keep the lines of communication as open as possible. A monthly bulletin, for example, on what the commission is doing and any developments in that regard is published on our website, although I accept that it does not go into the type of information the Deputy described.