Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To recap on the details of the case, it was the longest-running criminal trial in the history of the State, as the Tánaiste is aware. It showed all and sundry how inept the State is in terms of investigating and prosecuting white-collar crime. The majority of the blame must rightly be laid at the door of the ODCE. Equally, an eye must be cast on the actions or inactions of the Garda Síochána and on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. Other trials are going on every Monday through to Friday. This House will have to consider who holds the Office of the DPP to account in terms of its quality control and throughput, much of which is questionable. I am glad the Tánaiste recognises the seriousness of the comments made by the judge in regard to witness coaching, the shredding of documents and the biased and partisan approach of the ODCE. The Tánaiste said she received the report on the date it was due and it is good that it was delivered in a timely fashion and sets out the facts. I hope it sets out a little more in terms of the role of the professionals involved in the case or the lack of professional involvement. Will the Tánaiste publish the report? How soon can Members expect to have sight of it? It is a huge issue of significant public interest and the public is entitled to know how such a serious case, dealing with events which impacted on the lives of so many people, failed abysmally.

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