John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have listened carefully to the debate. I point out to the previous two speakers from the Government backbenches that when I spoke on this issue in the House last Thursday morning there was no member of Fine Gael in the House. That matter was raised at the time by a former member of Fine Gael. Out of respect for other Members, I responded that they were probably watching the proceedings on monitors in their offices. That is what happens. Let us not get diverted by comments like that. Let us also not be diverted by the politics swirling around this issue or by the ongoing political noise around this debate. I ask that the Minister focus on the complaints made by Sergeant McCabe. There are serious concerns about what he has had to say. I ask too that the Minister not forget - I made this appeal to the Minister, Deputy Howlin last week - the case, of which he has been aware for the past 18 months, of Lucia O'Farrell and the tragic death-murder of her son, Shane. She has been writing to the Minister in relation to the process of justice, the investigation of the case and the issues that arise from that investigation.

Lucia O'Farrell and her husband Jim have asked that the Minister would consider that case and what happened to them.

I appeal to the Minister to now address the matter because I know he has the papers - he has acknowledged them. In the past 18 months Lucia O'Farrell has received no response bar acknowledgements. She is calling on the Minister to consider the case she is making regarding the death of her son. I am appealing to the Minister today to do precisely that not only for her but for the many other cases in which people and families believe they did not get recognition, due process or justice. This is not politics, it is a Member of this Parliament appealing to the Minister for Justice and Equality to investigate. I would appreciate it if the Minister took note of that after he has finished whispering to Deputy Buttimer.

The next matter I wish to address is the independence of the confidential recipient. The Minister referred in a statement this morning to a sexual harassment case in the Garda as if it was the only case - that is what the lady concerned has picked up - but it is not the only case. There is another case that has been processed through all of the available procedures in place but it has got nowhere. I question the fact that the Minister sacked the confidential recipient rather than keep him in place until this matter has been fully dealt with. I would like to have asked the confidential recipient why he said to the lady that the last man who used the service was now washing cars in Navan. That is what was said. The person stands over that claim. He later went on to say-----

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