Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

With the Ceann Comhairle's indulgence, I will ask the Taoiseach to recall the minutes of the meeting to which he referred at which he said that, although there was agreement in principle to set up a commission, it was also agreed that it would not be appropriate to do so until the Committee of Public Accounts had reported. I have asked for a record of that meeting to be sent to us. The record clearly states at point No. 3 that steps to establish a commission will be taken immediately and before the Committee of Public Accounts completes its report. Will the Taoiseach reflect on this, examine his own records and correct the record of the House if needs be? There may have been an arrangement between the Government and Fianna Fáil, but that would have been in breach of what was agreed at the previous meeting.

I have raised the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005 with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Deputy Fitzgerald, and her predecessor, Alan Shatter. As the Taoiseach knows, this legislation dates back to 2005. We have had it on our Order Paper since then. It has been before these Houses for 12 years. Given the fact that we are going to establish a tribunal of inquiry, I am sure that the Taoiseach is well aware of the reason that this legislation exists. We have identified flaws in it that can easily be rectified.

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