Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are finding it incredibly difficult to get information from OLAF and the Garda ombudsman on where the process regarding the Cabra accounts is going. We are in a bind because the Garda is saying it will not disclose any information until the investigations are completed. I take it from the OLAF correspondence that its investigation has been completed and that it is not in a position to provide additional information concerning the results because it does not wish to prejudice any potential follow-up at national level. The correspondence we have from the Garda ombudsman's office is dated 30 March, which basically indicates that, due to constraints in terms of resources, there has been no progress, or at least no ability to outline a timeframe. However, on 9 May, I noted in The Sunday Timesquite an amount of information that at least appeared to be extrapolated from the Garda ombudsman's report. It even goes so far as to indicate it is unlikely there will be any criminal proceedings. Clearly, somebody has information with regard to this. This follows a well-worn pattern with regard to many State agencies in that where allegations of a very serious nature are made, the official response is to delay and procrastinate for so long that, by the time findings are released publicly, it is too late to do something about them or hold those responsible to account. Sometimes this crosses several agencies. I propose that we write back to the Garda ombudsman on the basis of the media reports from 9 May asking for a further update and that we ask the Garda again whether it has received correspondence from the ombudsman and OLAF and whether, on that basis, it can inform us about the current status of these investigations.