Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I join the Minister and colleagues in an expression of sympathy to the families of those who tragically lost their lives off Hook Head yesterday.

Will the Minister join with me in welcoming the decision of the High Court yesterday which has significantly strengthened the enforceability of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998? The Minister may not be privy to the detail of it but the legislation has been significantly strengthened as a result of the High Court decision yesterday in terms of its enforceability. Is the Minister in a position to advise whether the Government is accepting the decision, which I hope will be the case, or, God forbid, contemplating appealing the decision of the High Court to the Supreme Court? I hope and commend to the Minister that this would not be done and that we would recognise that the decision yesterday is a very important step in terms of securing and strengthening the legislation in place.

Last evening a sub-committee of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality Defence and Women's Rights produced the report on the murder of Seamus Ludlow. While the Ludlow family has understandably expressed its disappointment that it has not recommended a public inquiry, the report is nevertheless comprehensive. It is also damning of the failures of the inquiries into the murder at the time going back to the 1970s. Will the Government schedule a debate or an opportunity for statements in the House as a result of that report? It is very important, if the sub-committee's recommendation is to be taken up by Government, that we have the opportunity to air publicly and address the very important points the sub-committee has highlighted in its report, which I welcome, as there will not be a public dimension in terms of a full public inquiry.

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