Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The shooting of Mr. John Carthy happened in 2000, the Barr tribunal hearings in 2004 and still the report has not been published. It was due to go to the printers, according to the tribunal, five weeks ago. In any event, it is not credible in 2006 that a delay with the printer is the reason the report has not been laid before the House. The O'Sullivan report into the statutory rape affair and what went wrong in the Office of the Attorney General was promised within weeks but again the Government will contrive to publish it as soon as the House rises. There will be no opportunity to debate it, although we now know that a note was sent for the attention of the Attorney General. Whether he ever set eyes upon it, we do not know. However, we know that it exists and that it went up the line to him. Similarly, three reports have been held up in the case of the Morris tribunal. Regarding the Tánaiste's remit as Minister for Health and Children, last October she promised to publish the report on the Pat Joe Walsh case within eight weeks. It is now June.

I am afraid it suggests a deliberate Government plan to keep such reports under covers until the House has risen. It shows disrespect to the House and to democracy and fails to indicate the due regard in which such publications ought to be held.

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