Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On a general level, the Deputy has made a very good point that 138 water tragedies is extraordinary. Perhaps he is right that it does not receive the attention it deserves, including from me. That is very fair because one tragedy is one too many. It is something which is not highlighted, I suppose, because it is so common.

I take the Deputy's point about the family needing closure. If they have not received adequate explanations, it is even more difficult for them. I can only say to the Deputy that he is, of course, at liberty to say what he said just now. I do not doubt it for one second. I am not in a position to comment one way or the other, particularly if the Deputy is asking me to make a judgment on new evidence in the future. I hope the Deputy will do that. It would be something I could look at in the context of section 40. I am not giving the Deputy any guarantees or anything about it. However, if he can produce what is new evidence, I would be prepared to look at it.

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