John Carty (Fianna Fail)

I do not intend to speak on this motion for any length as I feel it has been adequately dealt with over many meetings of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. There were many witnesses at those meetings, including Ministers, former Ministers and officials such as the Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. Tom Moran, and his predecessor, the former Secretary General, Mr. Tom Carroll, who was in position at the time and was a very credible witness. We also had the pleasure of Senator Regan attending our meetings and giving us his side of matters and very good legal advice as well. I compliment him on that because the advice came free and his profession does not usually give that kind of information for free.

On the best advice offered by those officials, we on the Government side voted not to accept the recommendations of the Ombudsman. I and every Member have tremendous sympathy for the Byrne family and their great loss, both personal and commercial. I say to those who tabled the motion that if we are to believe the polls, they may well be in Government sooner rather than later and it will be up to them to re-open this case and pay compensation as they see fit. Indeed, Senator Regan may well be the Attorney General, and I look forward to that.