Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Connick, and congratulate and wish him well with his new portfolio.

I view this motion as non-political. The speech I most enjoyed was Senator O'Toole's, not that many good points have not been made on both sides of the House. In fact, I must admit I do not see a difference between the motion and the amendment. I am also delighted that it has been decided today that the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will carry out its own investigation and report on the matter. I look forward to the appearances of the Minister and the Ombudsman before that committee.

I do not intend to attach blame to anyone, but a question is raised by all of this: how stands the Ombudsman? We must be concerned about this because, as has been pointed out, the Office of the Ombudsman was set up and the Ombudsman appointed with the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. We are obliged, therefore, to have much regard to the independence and integrity of the office. I do not think anyone on either side would disagree with this.

Like most other speakers, I have much sympathy for the Byrne family. Their referral of the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman was their right, as the office is an essential part of our democratic system. They did not do anything wrong. The Ombudsman's office examined the case in the proper manner and made findings and we know what has happened since. As has been pointed out, Deputy Sargent wrote an important letter in the meantime. We must be careful in proceeding because of the implications for our political and democratic system. As I said, the matter was properly referred and examined and recommendations were made. What is at stake now is the integrity of the office. The Ombudsman was concerned that the Byrne family had been treated unfairly and made such a finding in her special report.

The major point is that the Office of the Ombudsman was constitutionally provided for and set up and the Ombudsman was appointed by both Houses to provide an independent, objective assessment. That was done and I hope we will respect the office. I also have considerable regard for the recent comments of the first ombudsman in the North, Dr. Maurice Hayes, who served with us as a Senator for two terms. I will finish on that point because he laid it out well. I hope the committee will deal properly with the matter and I have no doubt it will do so.