Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Deny, deny, deny. That is how Micheál Martin described, from the Opposition benches in 2017, the Fine Gael-led Government's approach to significant issues of health concern raised by members of the Air Corps. At the time, as Leader of the Opposition, he castigated the then Minister, Simon Coveney, and Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, for their lack of response. He said:

The response of the State has been standard and deeply depressing. It has resorted to the courts ... the Government is fighting them very strongly and acknowledging no negligence.

Last night, we heard Gary Coll say on RTÉ that he felt he was robbed and felt coerced into making a settlement without admission of negligence. He said the Air Corps tried to make him sign a non-disclosure agreement and that it was insistent. He said he refused and that he would not be silenced. Is it the Government's intention to establish an independent inquiry into the matters pertaining to Baldonnel and members of the Air Corps?

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