Seanad debates
Tuesday, 12 November 2002
Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements.
Tribunals are fact finding inquiries which try to arrive at considered judgments on the basis of the evidence. They have value. However, great care and responsibility must be exercised because great power is placed in the hands of tribunal judges and lawyers. As a result of the eagerness of the media for sensational findings, a person's reputation can be irretrievably destroyed in an instant. I have never liked it when what is called a "feeding frenzy" is directed against an individual. Those of us in public life, whether in elected or unelected positions, know that sometimes it is a case of there but for the grace of God go I.
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