Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In terms of inquiries, I would make the point that the demand for such inquiries usually comes from the Oireachtas on behalf of the public. Once a chairman is appointed, an inquiry is independent of the Taoiseach's office in terms of the conduct of its work, but it is open to the Oireachtas or the Government, at any time, to put forward proposals to terminate that inquiry or give it a final deadline. The reluctance to do that historically has always been because people would then accuse the Government of trying to undermine or interfere with the inquiry.

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