Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I cannot answer the first question. Dr. Shannon is an extremely thorough individual, as demonstrated by the reports he has done in the past and the quality of the work. It is important that we give him time to do this work. He made it very clear that he wants to engage with victims face to face. He did not want to do this through Zoom or online but in person. That is why it took some time at the start and why the interviews did not take place as soon as the review was initiated. He also wanted to get a very clear understanding of the operating conditions of the review and wanted those to be very clear with St. John Ambulance.

I am reluctant to pressure Dr. Shannon on when the report will be published. He must be given the time to do this properly. I am confident, in looking at his track record, that it will be done properly. We should give him the time to continue to work. I know he is very good in getting back to survivors and updating them, to the best of his ability.

If we have had a report undertaken over a period, I would be reluctant to commit to initiating another report. We need this report published. What I will commit to is doing everything in my power - it is not a legal power - to ensure that at the end of this process, the report can be published. It will not be published immediately and the organisation needs time to look at it and respond. Nonetheless, it is my view that the report must be published at the end of this process. I will do whatever I can to achieve that.

See this speech in context