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

To clarify, I said that where the independent panel decided that it needed further information based on its review of cases, it asked for it. I also said quite a lot of information had come in on an ongoing basis from members of the public - the complainants in the cases - and that information, even where a recommendation had already been made, had been sent back to the panel to be analysed and taken into account by it when making decisions. The Deputy is extremely dismissive of a process that has been put in place for the first time to analyse these cases. In respect of individual responses, there are recommendations that further action be taken in a number of the cases. As I said, I cannot envisage circumstances in which I would not accept the recommendations of counsel. The Deputy is very dismissive of a process that is objective, independent and involves a legal examination of information-----

See this speech in context