Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Mr. Carroll for his presentation. We all agree that there is a need for an investigations unit where there is serious wrongdoing. However, to say the change resulted from a simple reorganisation within the Department is not what some understood. My understanding is that it was a response to some high profile court cases in which the Department's case had not been sustained and where farmers who had maintained their innocence for many years had been vindicated in the courts. Serious issues were raised about the operation of the special investigations unit and these farmers believe they have lost thousands of euro because their credibility was destroyed over a long period. I will not name them because it would be invidious to do so. The Chairman would rule me out of order, even though I would be naming them in their defence. These farmers believe an investigation should be carried out into the operation during the years of the special investigations unit in these cases. Would the Department have any objection to an independent investigation into the operation of the unit prior to the putting in place of the new arrangements? Does Mr. Carroll believe it is important that the issue of how the unit conducted itself be resolved once and for all?

If an investigation by an independent person vindicates the SIU, that is in the interest of the Department, and if it does not, we need to know about that. My main issue is not whether we need an SIU. The arrangements in place at present appear to be adequate. My main question is how the SIU operated when it was the SIU, as opposed to the new investigations division, and whether it operated in a fair manner. Have there been cases in which it destroyed the livelihoods of people who, it was then discovered when it came to court, had not been involved in illegalities - the case made by farmers from the beginning?