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

What benefit could there be to anybody? It defies belief. It is as if Deputies believe that I or another member of the Government welcomed the fact that the issue emerged in the manner in which it emerged. The extensiveness of the issue was only made known to the Taoiseach at the weekend and to me on Monday. It is no more complicated than that and I cannot add to it.

I look forward to the commission of inquiry fully and properly investigating the issue. In the context of making reference to a new interim Commissioner, Noirín O’Sullivan, she has been asked to provide the fullest information and, with the assistance of the Attorney General, the Government will frame the appropriate terms of reference for the commission of inquiry. It is important there is the maximum information available to ensure the terms of reference are comprehensive and broad to ensure any questions that need to be answered are answered. That is all I can say in respect of that matter. Deputies have raised other matters, one of which we will deal with later.

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