Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

On the issue of a public or private inquiry, if we go for a public inquiry, as the Deputy suggests, in re Haughey procedures come into place and we know where that will lead in terms of procedure, time and cost. We came to this House in 2004 to learn from those lessons of the past under the various tribunals of another Act. We said there would be a committee of investigation giving us the benefit of tribunal-like powers for the commission but not the costs associated with tribunals in the past and the time lags involved in proceeding with issues of public concern. Under the Act they are supposed to be matters of urgent public importance but they are still being considered a dozen years on.

We came to this House and debated the matter, bringing forward a process as a means by which we could act. It is independent and statutory and if we are going to denigrate the people who will be asked to do this job before we even start, that is perhaps an indication of the disposition and demeanour of the people criticising it.

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