Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I wish to give credit to the new Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Pat Carey, who has arranged to extend the time allocated — from 50 minutes to two hours — in respect of Thursday's debate on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The Minister of State has got over the first hurdle and I thank him for arranging to extend the debate. Matters might not always be as easy for him.

Is it a matter of Government policy that Ministers of State are permitted to let fly in respect of the Garda Síochána and indicate that they have no confidence in the force in the context of its members doing their duty?

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