Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that I recognise the pain and anguish the O'Farrell family has been going through because of the tragic death of their son Shane. I sincerely sympathise with them on their loss.

As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired judge has been conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane's death. The purpose of this exercise is to advise as to whether any further action, investigation or inquiry beyond those already carried out is necessary and, if so, to advise on the form of such investigation or inquiry and its terms of reference. This is quite a large piece of work already under way.

My Department maintains regular contact with the judge and has assured him that any assistance he requires to complete the final stages of his report will be made available to him. I do know he is at the final stages.

I am informed that he has sought comments on various sections of the draft report from the parties named in it, and he has confirmed that he has received responses from most of the relevant parties. Once this process is concluded, he should be in a position to finalise the report. I understand and appreciate that this has been going on for longer than people would have hoped but it is important that the judge be allowed to do his work and make the recommendations. Once I have received the final report, the advice of the Attorney General will be sought on its publication and any other issues arising from it.

The Government has never been opposed to the possibility of a further inquiry into this case, if that is what is recommended. I am certainly not opposed to it. However, the Deputy will understand that I do not want to pre-empt any view or advice that the judge considers appropriate in his final report. However, I will respond to what is in the report. If that includes a recommendation on a further inquiry, I will of course respond.

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