Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will conclude by thanking Deputies Clare Daly and Mick Wallace because they were involved and it is important that they did not use the issue to ingratiate themselves. It should be acknowledged that they pursued the issue in a very professional and dogged way. As it is such a delicate and sensitive area, whistleblowers need to feel as if they have the space and security to bring serious concerns, firstly, to their employers and, secondly, to whomever they think can pursue the issue. The terms of reference of the commission of investigation will be crucial. As far as I can see - I may be wrong - Conor Dignam's report and the two reports that have already been concluded should feed into the terms of reference. It is essential that there is a political input because, as politicians, we are responsible to every citizen in the country, not only to those who go out and elect us. We have equal responsibility to those who do not. I hope what we are doing will allow us to have a very clear overview of what happened, how and why it happened and, after that, to establish what process to put in place to ensure that people are never again left in this vulnerable position.

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