Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Civil servants and their Ministers have a habit of calculating how far we will get on oral questions and then giving minimal information in the subsequent written questions or questions that do not come up for oral reply. If I did not personally know Mr. Brian McCarthy, I would have doubted his very existence on the basis of the answer I received previously from the Minister. However, I know he exists and I put it to the Minister that it is not doing anything for Garda morale that the confidentiality he has described surrounds him or that a Garda is required to either present physically or make contact with him within the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

I must say, although I regret having to do so, that I am sceptical about the nine chief superintendents. Certainly the gardaí who have identified cases to me are not going to approach a chief superintendent. I am sorry it should be that way.

The Minister did not answer my question regarding the Morris reports. I know he is a very busy man and I do not know if he has had the opportunity to read those reports. They are absolutely hair-raising. It is hair-raising that such events should happen in this small country and the fact that a High Court judge believes they did not only happen in Donegal should be a serious cause for concern in this House.

Mr. Brian McCarthy should be independent, stand alone and accessible by people in this House, for example, who have serious cases brought to their attention and who want to deal with them through an independent confidential recipient.

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