Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Why is it that the specialist investigative unit is only now being brought into the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to investigate this matter? Why is the Garda Síochána only now being brought into this situation? This issue has been ongoing since last October, yet these two units are only now being brought in.

On the previous occasion I raised this issue, I asked for transparency and that all documentation be revealed to the House. It was not. I also asked who was heading up the investigation. We still do not know that. A request was made today to the Department for a report on the matter. The Department said no report will be published following the declarations of last weekend by the Minister.

I put it to the Taoiseach that what is required now is a full, transparent, comprehensive and independent inquiry, at one remove from the industry and Department, to get to the bottom of this issue once and for all. That is the only way to protect the customer and the industry.

See this speech in context