Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I think it was an assertion. I hope I do understand the complexity of the issue, as I have been engaged with it for a while.

There are various solutions that the Senator came up with. There are some people who, honestly and legitimately, do not believe that inquiries are at all the proper function of Parliament. That is fine. If that is their view, it is a principled position. However, the vast majority of contributors here have said they agree with the notion that we should be like other Parliaments and have the power of inquiry, but are concerned about the fourth clause of the provision proposed by the Government in terms of its potential to rebalance rights. At the all-party committee, we spent a long time tackling that issue. Up to now, the rights of the individual have consistently trumped the common good. Somewhere along the line, the public interest must be put on the weighing scales.