Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The public would find it bizarre in light of the events of the last number of days if we voted through the Order of Business agreed last Thursday at the Business Committee. In advance of any discussion of the terms of reference of, as now seems to be the consensus, a tribunal of inquiry, the issues put on the table by the McCabe family in the six questions should be addressed by the relevant Ministers in so far as they can be addressed. Most of us have tabled Private Notice Questions but it would probably be better if the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs would make short statements on the unfortunate but clear contradictions in their individual statements over the last number of days. If there is an explanation, let us hear it and move on then on the basis of clear knowledge. It cannot be the case that contradictory statements are left standing.

Last week, the terms of reference of a commission of inquiry into these very important issues were not discussed in advance with the Opposition parties. Certainly, they were not discussed with my party.

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In fairness to the Tánaiste, she did accept the proposition of taking amendments during the course of the debate and we deferred that.

In respect of what will be a much more extensive body of work of a tribunal of inquiry - I understand that the Fianna Fáil Party has already submitted draft terms of reference - in advance of publishing any terms of reference, I ask that there be proper discussion among the parties here. We are all anxious to avoid a multi-annual inquiry. We need to ensure that terms are comprehensive and where there are interacting issues that need to be dealt with together or in tandem before we can get an accurate picture of the truth that these things would be done.

We are all working from the basis of knowledge we have on ensuring that the terms of reference are comprehensive. I ask that the Taoiseach cause a meeting to take place where we could have a proper and full discussion on these matters.

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