Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak. I also welcome the terms of reference in so far as I have had an opportunity to check them out. I believe that this is being rushed. The terms of reference were published at 12 noon today, which was approximately three hours ago. It would have been opportune to allow the Members of the House to peruse and check the terms of reference over the weekend. This could well create a situation where the terms of reference do not include everything and there may be difficulties down the road. I welcome that we are having a public inquiry. The original proposal for a private inquiry - effectively one in secret - was not acceptable or good enough and was effectively a cover-up. It suggested a cover-up.

We should have a parallel criminal investigation undertaken by an external police force identified by the Members of this House. That is the only way to deal with this astonishing and shocking situation which has had huge repercussions for individual members of An Garda Síochána and their families. It is clear that the whole situation arose from a systematic intimidation of whistleblowers by senior gardaí. In that respect, I welcome the fact that other whistleblowers are being included in the investigation.

I also believe the role of the media should be examined seriously by the judge. There is no doubt that pet criminal correspondents were used to spread false accusations against members of An Garda Síochána. The judge will need to examine that seriously and completely.

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