Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice reform last met. [3272/15]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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7. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice reform last met. [5467/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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8. To ask the Taoiseach the number of meetings of the Cabinet committee on justice reform has held since it was established; and when it last met. [12801/15]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on justice reform has met on eight occasions to date and last met on 25 May 2015. I expect that it will meet again soon but the date for its next meeting has not been scheduled yet.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. The Taoiseach will agree that the Cabinet committee on justice reform was established because the Government had allowed the sector to slide into crisis after crisis and was a sign that the Government was looking for a way out. In particular the background to the justice reform committee was the way the Taoiseach and the then Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, behaved in embroiling the Garda Síochána in an unprecedented crisis and the effective removal of a Garda Commissioner. Like the Moriarty tribunal, the Taoiseach is keen to bury any inconvenient investigation, and does so with sustained energy. However, many people believe the Taoiseach and his staff are already busy spinning regarding the Fennelly commission. We read about sections of the report in the Irish Independentlast Saturday, while the former Garda Commissioner, Mr. Martin Callinan, is meant to be on holidays and has not received his part of the report yet. Is the Taoiseach concerned over these selective leaks? They seem to be leaked in such a way as to be spun positively in the Taoiseach’s direction.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Surprise, surprise.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No matter what the report says, the Taoiseach will declare himself to have been cleared, rush it through a debate in the Dáil and then try to smother it in other leaks and announcements. Does the Taoiseach intend to bring it before the Cabinet committee on justice reform, will he agree in advance with the House a timetable for releasing and debating the report after it has been submitted, or will he insist on controlling and spinning all of it through his favourite channels?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It might be useful if the Taoiseach could indicate when he expects the Fennelly report might be published. The committee has met two times more than the other one with which we dealt and has also dealt with many scandalous issues that eroded public confidence in the administration of justice. I welcome the fact that the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is making its slow way through the two Houses. When does the Taoiseach expect the Garda authority to be operational? We have argued very strongly for an independent policing authority, and in particular we have concerns that there should be an independent criminal justice inspectorate as opposed to a Minister dealing with such issues. Given that we are out of time, perhaps the Taoiseach would give us some information on the two issues, particularly the first one. When does he expect the Fennelly report to be published?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Martin has accused me of sacking the previous Garda Commissioner and misleading the Dáil. Now, he has accused me of breaking the law in being out with him and his staff. I reject all these charges by Deputy Martin.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What charges?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy knows the legislation that established commissions of investigation and it is illegal to make any comment on anything to do with a commission of investigation until it is ready to be published. I have already said, on many occasions, that when I receive a copy of the Fennelly report that can be published, it will be published in accordance with the law. It is beneath the Deputy, as a member of the Government which drafted the commission of investigation legislation, to come here and make the charges he has made.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Which charge?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He made the charge that staff here and I had been briefing about a commission of investigation report.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is not what I said.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Who is doing it?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is what he said. It is beneath Deputy Micheál Martin. He is asking me to break the law, which I will not do. I have already advised him on many occasions that I reject the charges he made. When the report is received-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I asked the Taoiseach whether he was concerned about the reports. I did not accuse him of leaking them.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am concerned. The Deputy has made a charge which I ask him to withdraw to the effect that I was out there with staff in respect of anything to do with the Fennelly commission.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not say the Taoiseach was out anywhere.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is beneath the Deputy and he should withdraw the charge. I reject the charges he made.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not use that phrase and the Taoiseach should withdraw it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The report will be published in accordance with the law when I receive it. The Deputy understands the legislation and I abide by it fully and completely.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoisech should withdraw that remark. I did not use that phrase at all.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes, the Deputy did.