Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am told the documents the Deputy referred to have been provided to the tribunal. The Minister for Justice and Equality expects to make the appointment of the senior counsel in the coming days. The original intention was that it would all be done by Christmas but there has been a delay in securing a senior counsel to carry out the work. As a result it will be difficult to get the work done by Christmas. Certainly, the instruction from the Government will be to have it done within a matter of weeks if that is possible. Members will understand that if one commissions somebody to carry out an investigation, it is right and proper to give that person enough time to do it and not set a deadline that might prevent the person from carrying out a thorough and comprehensive job, which must be the priority.

Regarding the terms of reference, it is not possible for me to give a commitment in the House to publish them. I would not have an objection to it but there might be legal or other reasons I am not aware of which would prevent that from happening.

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