Seanad debates
Friday, 4 July 2003
Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Motion.
I am sure the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and other members of the Cabinet will be quite clear that current modules will be held in public. There is no way that modules relating to Gilmartin or other planning issues should be dealt with in a private prologue. I fully agree that future modules should be examined in the Bill, which we will have in the autumn, and I am sure that that will be attended to through what I believe will be termed a "commission of investigation". The current modules must be held in public. Otherwise the public's belief in the efficacy of such tribunals would be very considerably undermined. The Taoiseach has assured the Dáil, and I wish to assure this House. I have been informed to the effect that the current modules will be held in public, as is proper in order that people's reputations can be cleared. If others have to hit the dust, that is the way the tribunal will conduct its business.
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