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

I thank the Deputy for her contribution. The very fact that this is an independent inquiry and that the retired judge, Judge Haughton, is independent in the work that he is doing means that I am not able to give the Deputy the timeframe because I do not have it. I know, however, that the report is at its final stages. I am aware that this may not be much comfort at the moment without having a set timeframe.

What I have seen since coming into the Department is that the other section 42 inquiries are taking longer than anyone would like or had ever thought they would take. That perhaps is something we need to look at into the future if we are looking at further types of inquiries, or independent inquiries, that are led under the section 42 process. This process has obviously started and we need to allow it to continue to completion. I fully respect the independent work of the judge and I have no doubt that when it is finalised and that when the work is done, I will receive it as quickly as possible. I would also like that the advice from the Attorney General come back to me as quickly as possible.

I will ask that of him when he is presented with the report. I will seek his advice in terms of its publication but also the recommendations in it and where we go from here. I hope we will be able to respond at that stage to the Deputy and, most importantly, to the O'Farrell family.

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