Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister well knows, the ODCE is in the High Court seeking to appoint inspectors to Independent News and Media, INM. The reason I raised this particular issue is that it is critically important we have full confidence in the ODCE. By any stretch of the imagination when Judge Aylmer directed the jury to acquit Mr. FitzPatrick, it sent out shockwaves. We heard about the inefficiencies and inabilities of the ODCE and the fact it shredded evidence. The list is endless in terms of its incompetence in dealing with the longest criminal trial in the history of the State. It is vitally important that everybody has full confidence in this office. The legislation is in place. Has the ODCE all the available resources it needs? Has it the capacity to ensure that if it does take a case to trial, it has the expertise, competencies and confidence to do that? This report has to be published and we have to learn quickly from it.

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