Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reality is every issue in the justice area that comes before the House is addressed by Members opposite as a matter of personality. No Deputy opposite has raised the substance of the issues, the real concerns that could arise out of recordings made, the issues surrounding privacy of citizens and relating to the administration of our criminal justice system and our civil justice system and possible concerns that arise in civil and criminal actions, both pending and heard in the past.

The reason we need a commission of inquiry to examine this is to get a full insight into the background circumstances relating to the recordings being made, the purpose - if any - for which they were used, the manner in which they were stored, the data protection issues that arise and whether they could have any impact on matters relating to the administration of justice. As soon as the full details of the issue came to my notice and came to the notice of the Taoiseach, we believed it was important the Government be informed, that the House be informed and that action be taken. We are condemned by Deputies opposite for so dealing with the matter.

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