Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I am merely concerned that some peace of mind should be brought to the relatives concerned about the terrible tragedy that befell them. The Taoiseach says: "Deputy Rabbitte is right in stating that no Government for the past 25 years has taken too much of an interest in it since the public inquiry — I did", but I am bound to remind him that he has been in government since 1987 with the exception of two years. He has been Taoiseach for ten years. If he cannot offer them some way forward or some hope, who can? As far as I am concerned, this was an act of corporate manslaughter. If ever there is a definition of corporate manslaughter, this is it, with people crowded in unconscionable numbers into an unsafe space with the doors padlocked and combustible materials in the attic. How long does it take us to get this independent evidence that will enable the Taoiseach to make a decision about what mechanism can be put in place to satisfy the reasonable requests of the people concerned?

See this speech in context