Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

Without wanting to interfere in any way with the workings of any tribunal, would the Taoiseach agree that, as this House set up the tribunals, it should be possible to ask either the Moriarty or Mahon tribunal, instead of waiting for a final report on all modules, that the very minimum that should happen is for the results of the inquiry into individual modules be published as they are completed?

In some instances, as in the Mahon tribunal, there are people, including myself as a former member of Dublin County Council, who have had to wait 12 or 13 years to have their good names cleared simply because they were asked to attend to give evidence. It is grossly unfair to any individual that he should have to wait long periods to clear his good name. The very least that should happen is that as each module is completed, a report on that module should be published.

I ask the Taoiseach if this House, having established the tribunals, could ask those involved to publish the reports of each module so that people's good names can be cleared without having to wait for 12 or 13 years.

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