Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

Some of them can be over-elaborate and may miss the point, despite the fact that they are so long, but some of them can be short and to the point. In this case the reply was quite short and to the point. The question was as follows: "To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects to announce details of the form of inquiry to be held into allegations of serious sexual abuse within the Dublin Archdiocese; if the inquiry will be limited to Dublin; if it will cover other areas in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter". That was in November 2002. The Minister's crisp and specific response was as follows:

I am finalising proposals in relation to this matter which I hope to submit to Government shortly. The Deputy will appreciate that in advance of that submission I cannot definitively answer the questions he poses regarding the form and scope of such an inquiry. I assure the House that I am giving priority to this matter because of the grave nature of the issues involved.

That was more than three years ago. The Minister had an inquiry in mind. He intended to establish an inquiry. He had briefed the Cabinet. He found the report very disturbing and he was giving the matter priority. I wonder what would happen on a matter to which the Minister did not give priority.

The inquiry the Minister is now establishing will report in 18 months. There is one certainty about this inquiry; it will not report while the Minister is Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in this Administration. I do not know what will happen afterwards.

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