Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There seems to be an assumption in some quarters that people are going around telling deliberate lies or that I am not telling the truth. We have now spent two hours that would have been very well spent on discussing the terms of reference for the public inquiry into this matter. The central issue is was there or was there not a deliberate smearing campaign against Sergeant Maurice McCabe carried out by senior members of the Garda, that is, the Commissioner and the previous Commissioner. That is the central allegation. For that purpose, we need a tribunal of inquiry.

I understand Deputy Shortall said the reason one does not have a commission of investigation is that the McCabe family said it would not participate in it and instead wanted a full public inquiry. Today, the Cabinet agreed that there should be a full public inquiry under the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 which has to be fair to all persons associated with this. For that reason, I am much happier to hear people talking about the decision to have a tribunal of inquiry and determine its terms of reference.

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