Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On the question of tribunals of inquiry, I asked the Taoiseach if he had any idea of the time taken up in tribunal work by the Chief State Solicitor's office. If he is not in a position to answer I will understand, but will he please ensure that an answer is secured? Is he concerned about the time the Office of the Chief State Solicitor must allocate to the work of the tribunals of inquiry currently in train as compared with its other work, and the cost of same? Will he state specifically if he receives regular reports on the work of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor through the Attorney General?

In regard to asylum and refugee law cases, there is evidence that the Office of the Chief State Solicitor is acting under instruction to seek loopholes in EU directives and has employed such an approach in cases that I have given the details of to the appropriate Minister, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I am waiting for a response on that issue. If the Taoiseach is not in a position to give a definitive answer, is he not concerned that might be the case? If it were the case that the State is acting contrary to the intent of an EU directive, which was intended as a facilitating measure, would he not also, like other Deputies, seek a definitive explanation?

See this speech in context