Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

——the responsible thing to do was to photograph the panel as it was found and to replace it so that it could not be used in such a manner again. If an event of this nature was to happen again, I am sure Deputy Costello would be the first to say that to leave the panel in such a condition was evidence of gross Garda negligence. I wish to clear up any doubt by reminding the House that such events will be investigated by the new Garda ombudsman commission on an automatic basis from now on. The sooner the commission is up and running the better, as far as I am concerned. The House is familiar with the efforts I made to ensure the legislation establishing the ombudsman commission was pushed through. I am not aware of any reason to suspect that anybody other than Mr. Terence Wheelock was involved in the events which led to his death. It is not fair to create an alternative impression.

I do not want to prejudge the outcome of the inquiry into the death of Brian Rossiter by responding to some of the remarks made by Deputy Costello. Mr. Hugh Hartnett has been asked to inquire into the various issues and he will do so. If a commission of inquiry were established, it would proceed in private. Commissions of inquiry do not operate in public.

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