Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Yesterday, we received a letter from the chairman of the Mahon tribunal, informing the House it was his intention to conclude the Quarryvale module public hearings by the beginning of next year and therefore to bring proceedings of the tribunal to a conclusion and issue a report. As I understand it, the tribunal is a creature of the House. Will we have an opportunity to discuss the letter sent by the chairman of the tribunal in the House? Are any motions required to be moved in the House to agree with the contents of the letter? The tribunal was established by the House and therefore its winding up is also a matter for the House.

The Travers report was issued in March 2005 and discussed in the House shortly thereafter. The report recommended the Civil Service should be aware of, take due cognisance of and be responsive to issues of political sensitivity and ensure Ministers are fully briefed on all factors relevant to politically sensitive issues within the operational remit of Departments. The Travers report followed the claim by the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, that he had not read his brief on the nursing homes issue.

Given the Taoiseach's undertaking at the time which was given in the House that the recommendations of the Travers report would be taken on board and implemented by the Government, will the Tánaiste explain how it is we read in today's Irish Examiner that the Government Secretary was aware on 27 July of the Aer Lingus decision in respect of Shannon, that the line Department was aware of it six weeks earlier and that nobody in the Government was told about it?

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