Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Creighton rightly quoted what the Taoiseach said when he was announcing the setting up of the banking inquiry. This is an opportunity to showcase the committee system. What we are doing here is changing Standing Orders to give this committee the powers and the opportunity to showcase what we can do as a Dáil, as a Parliament and as elected representatives.

What the general public is looking for is the truth regarding what happened in the past, be it political or policy decisions. This is about learning for the future to make sure we do not make the same mistakes again. The Oireachtas banking inquiry will no doubt be the first test of what we are changing here today. This is about findings of fact. It is not about proving somebody guilty. We have our own courts system under our Constitution and as an Oireachtas, we respect that. What this committee is being set up to do is produce findings of fact - what happened, where it happened, how it happened, who made the decisions and why those decisions were made - and to make sure those decisions are never repeated.

There is general agreement within the Chamber that Members of Parliament through the committee system should have an inquiry and play a major role in finding out what happened. The passing of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013 last July was a positive step in that it gave direction. The Dáil's approval of these Standing Orders will move the matter forward to the next stage for the Seanad to approve these Standing Orders in respect of the CPP and the necessary guidelines. This Government has been very proactive about building this inquiry going back to when we held the referendum in autumn 2011. To say this is some political stunt-----

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