Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

A Minister in these circumstances, in the last analysis, if asked in the House whether there is a document in the possession of the Garda which states A or B, must be in a position by some mechanism, through a responsible office holder, to ascertain whether that is the truth. It would be a sad day if, as Minister, I were to tell the House I could not say a document of such a kind exists or does not, or, alternatively, that I was being refused by the Garda Commissioner information for which the Deputy asked and which I agree I should be in a position to impart to him. That cannot be right.

See this speech in context