Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I will answer Deputy Rabbitte because he is asking the questions. The Taoiseach indicated that the Government has some ideas on the terms of reference, which it would share with the Opposition for discussion and consideration. There is no prescriptive approach, it is a matter of working out the terms of reference. We have some views on the matter and if everyone is committed to dealing with the wider policy issues that arise it should not be impossible to arrive at terms of reference agreeable to everyone.

A senior civil servant in my Department will report on the facts of what happened in respect of this case. I was somewhat disappointed to read in the Official Report of yesterday's debate that people regard the appointment of a senior civil servant as sweeping things under the carpet. It ill behoves Members of this House to impugn the integrity of either the Civil Service or the public service.

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