Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

If I may, I will repeat that question to the Taoiseach and perhaps he might answer it. Maurice and Lorraine McCabe wrote a long letter yesterday explaining that they wanted a public inquiry because of their experience of the previous inquiries that were private. That now, I presume, will be a decision of this House. They also set out six specific questions that they said could be answered in the interim as we await answers from a tribunal of inquiry. The Minister, Deputy Zappone, referred to two of those questions in her contribution.

My first question is to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald. Can she answer, in whole or in part, any of those six questions in advance of the tribunal and, if so, she will do so? My next question is to the Minister, Deputy Zappone. The Minister said that she has already corresponded with the McCabes on the second question of whether a decision was made not to inform Maurice of the making of the 2013 allegation. If so, why and by whom? I do not see any reason that information cannot be put into the public domain. Will the Minister, Deputy Zappone, put into the public domain whether a decision was made not to inform Maurice McCabe in 2013 of the allegation made? If he had been told at that time the family would have been spared a huge amount of pain because they would have been able to clarify the situation. I believe that is information that should be in the public domain. It is not specifically about any individual and so I do not see any reason it should not be in the public domain. Perhaps the Minister, Deputy Zappone, would respond to that question and the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, would respond to my other question.

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