Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have already stated on many occasions that those people who have issues which need to be brought to public attention in doing a service will be treated with the respect it deserves. The Guerin report has found that, in particular, Sergeant McCabe has been vindicated in the issues he raised. Arising from this report the Government has responded in acting decisively and clearly to have a commission of investigation into the issues that were raised in the report. As the Deputy is aware, Mr. Guerin's report indicates for each of these, with one exception, that the case warrants further inquiry in an appropriate forum in the public interest. The Government has responded to that clearly and decisively and it will set out the terms of reference that would be appropriate for the scale of this commission of investigation because of the nature of the cases it would cover.

Deputy Adams is aware that at some time in the future - I cannot say when - Mr. Justice Cooke will also present his report, and it would be appropriate, as Deputy Clare Daly mentioned on a number of occasions last week, that instead of having a long list of commissions of inquiry, it would be appropriate to consider what is the best structure to deal with the issues that warrant investigation in these cases.

I have already spoken of the importance of the right of people to bring issues to public notice that should be brought to such notice. The Protected Disclosures Bill 2013, or the whistleblowers legislation, will resume on Committee Stage in the House tomorrow. In that regard I have no problem apologising to Sergeant McCabe for the issues he raised and because his raising of these matters was not dealt with more speedily in the first instance.

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