Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The point is that the question of evidence is a matter for the courts. We have a very good separation of powers principle, whereby the Judiciary and our courts system determine guilt or innocence in respect of any potential criminal liability that people wish to ascribe. In the Abbeylara case, the Supreme Court judgment was quite clear in this matter regarding the ability to make adverse findings. That has to be respected since that is the constitutional position. We should of course be open to considering what ways we can reform and assist committees in dealing with matters, but we cannot do so by disregarding constitutional proprieties.

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