Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

That method of inquiry has worked well in the past, most recently in the context of the Murphy report. The commission of investigation has been provided by the Oireachtas with all the powers the Oireachtas believes are necessary to enable it to investigate a matter of significant public concern. The tight timeline for the work will ensure the report of the commission is available to the Oireachtas for further consideration and action as quickly as possible thereafter. That method of inquiry has been supported and a law passed by the Oireachtas which some Members now seem to claim constitutes a whitewash. The third stage involves the consideration of the report by the Oireachtas and action by an appropriate Oireachtas committee. The suggestion that the inquiry is a whitewash because hearings will be in private makes no sense. It is the findings and recommendations that are of importance. These will be published, considered and debated.

Those that make the allegation of a whitewash are really complaining that not every wild allegation can be published or proffered. The public are interested in balanced findings that ascertain what went wrong and provide guidance as to how mistakes can be avoided in the future. We have outlined a means by which an independent statutory inquiry can take place by assembling the facts through the reports that will be done by the governor and an independent expert, and to proceed thereafter as the Oireachtas sees fit.

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