Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)

We have serious issues in relation to cost overruns in this country. Inquiries, commissions of investigation and tribunals have cost the taxpayer millions of euro. The fact the Taoiseach is not here this evening is reflective of that. He is the line Minister in relation to this and he should be here to answer questions. Millions of euro are pumped into this system and yet so many of these inquiries fail to deliver justice. The Moriarty tribunal was established in the late 1990s, the final report was published in 2011 and the cost is in the region of €100 million but what is the outcome? It is zero accountability and zero convictions. Almost 30 years later, and despite the final report being published over a decade ago, the Irish taxpayer is still paying for it. What is going on? That is why the Taoiseach should be here, namely, to answer questions in relation to it. Sending in junior Ministers without responsibility in here is simply not good enough.

This money could be spent on so many better things, such as housing, health, infrastructure, Irish Water and so on. It could be spent on special needs. I know a family in Mayo struggling to find a school for their child because the schools are oversubscribed at the moment. There are so many issues in the country and it seems this Government just does not want to address value for money for the taxpayer. That is hugely regrettable. Instead, the Government appears to be happy to continue to pump millions into a black hole.

This inquiry needs to be wound up. We need to get to the end of this inquiry and €100 million on one inquiry is simply unacceptable. We want to see real accountability in relation to this and reform of tribunals and commissions of inquiry. The first step would be the Taoiseach coming in here to answer questions in relation to it.

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