Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have received a letter from the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, setting out the background and his reasons for making the decision he has made. The Minister has made his decision with a great degree of dignity. This is not a case of a Minister having been involved in anything underhand, illegal or scams of any description. It is a testament to the extent of the exceptional work ethic the Minister showed right across the entire spectrum of the justice brief that the report comes to the conclusion that there was inadequate investigation and analysis of the issues raised by Sergeant McCabe by a variety of agencies. I point out that GSOC did not co-operate with Mr. Guerin. I point out that Mr. Guerin did not speak to the Minister. I point out that the report recommends that there be a comprehensive commission of investigation into the matters raised as the subject of the issues by Sergeant McCabe.

The Minister, in his letter, thanks all of the personnel involved in the work in which he was involved. Obviously, he has read the report, considered its implications and, in the interests of the entire situation, made up his mind and tendered his resignation which I have accepted with reluctance. He has a prodigious work output. His work in the area of penal and legislative reform will stand the test of time.

The report, as Deputy Micheál Martin knows, came as a response by me to issues of grave concern raised in the House. The Government appointed Mr. Seán Guerin, SC, to look at the documentation and the cases presented. His report is factual and straight and, I must say, hard-hitting. It points to the inadequacy of investigation by a range of authorities. In so far as that issue is concerned, the brunt of the report deals with the Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality and, to a lesser extent, the Minister for Justice and Equality. In regard to his statutory powers, the Minister considers that it is in everybody's interests that he tender his resignation.

The report was sent to me as Taoiseach. The accompanying letter from Mr. Guerin yesterday evening points out that publication of the report must take into account certain matters of privacy, named individuals, matters that might be sub judiceand so on. I have asked the Attorney General to deal with the report in that context and it will be published on Friday morning, taking into account the recommendations of the senior counsel. The Government will respond next week in respect of the report's recommendation that there be a comprehensive commission of investigation, as I committed to here when the matter was raised in the first instance. Obviously, we will make arrangements through the Whips to have the report debated at an appropriate time. It will be available on Friday morning.

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