Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I initiated this process of reform as soon as I was appointed as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I published consultation papers and engaged in consultation with the representative associations. I sent the heads of the Bill to the Irish Human Rights Commission, whose criticisms I later took on board. The process that has led us to where we are today is not as it was described by the Labour Party this evening — it is totally different. This process involves a Minister who is determined to bring about change, but is being challenged by a party that promised change but did sweet nothing when it had an opportunity to make changes. Although the Labour Party promised change, it did nothing.

Serious issues have been raised by the two reports of the Morris tribunal which have been presented to date. The first report referred to the matters in which Ms Sheenagh McMahon was caught up. It has been suggested that I let Ms McMahon down yesterday by failing to name her among the people who are due an apology. I said yesterday that I will apologise to all those who are victims of the Garda misbehaviour exposed in the reports of the Morris tribunal. I repeat that such people will be given the apology to which they are entitled in due course, after all the facts have been established. I am not making a tit-for-tat point——

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