Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

An issue here arose which is being investigated by the relevant authorities - the Garda. The Minister asked for the file, and it arrived yesterday evening. Obviously, he will look at that. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is looking at it and we must go through that process.

Clearly, if whatever arises out of it - whatever lessons are to be learned whereby a person who, it seems, was convicted of a drugs offence and was in a position to obtain a haulier's licence without that coming to the attention, presumably, of those who were administering the licensing regime in the Department - requires a change of arrangement so that this could not happen again, then obviously that is the principle of accountability we want to see. We must get a clear view of the facts in terms of how this happened, who dealt with it, what issues arose and why certain matters came to their attention.

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