Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Deputy's comments on wanting to get at the truth for the people concerned and to have the best process in place to examine their complaints. The complaints, in many instances, are about cases that have been in a variety of places, including before the Director of Public Prosecutions, through the courts systems or GSOC. The cases that have been referred to the process are complex. There were very wide criteria and it involved all of the cases that appeared to be relevant, although some that have been referred fall outside the terms of reference. It was never intended that the process would include face-to-face meetings. It was always to involve a review of all of the work that had been done and all of the papers relating to the cases involved to ascertain whether, on the basis of an objective, independent legal review, recommendations should be made in terms of a follow-up. I will take up the Deputy's point about communicating with complainants.

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