Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I refer the Deputies to a press statement issued by the Government today which encapsulates the situation as far as we are concerned. The report in question is an assessment report which was produced by the Irish Human Rights Commission and forwarded to the Department of Justice and Law Reform yesterday evening. It was brought to the attention of the Government this morning that the report had come to hand.

While the Irish Human Rights Commission has decided it will not carry out an inquiry under the Human Rights Commission Act 2000, it has asked the Government to establish a statutory mechanism to examine the extent of the State's involvement and responsibility and in the event of State involvement and responsibility being established, "that the statutory mechanism then advance to conducting a larger-scale review of what occurred" and the redress which should be considered.

The Irish Human Rights Commission did not seek any observations from the Government during its assessment process. We have initiated a review of the assessment report, as published, and will consider its recommendations in that context. There are a number of Departments, including the Departments of Justice and Law Reform, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Health and Children, Enterprise, Trade and Innovation and Education and Skills, for which the assessment report will have implications and the views of the Attorney General will be required. The Government will consider the report, having received it without prior notice or involvement.

See this speech in context