Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I do not want to prolong the debate unnecessarily because we have thrashed out the issues fully. In response to Senator Mullen, I oppose his wording and the Government's is infinitely preferable. There is a particular merit, as I said, in having a specific admonition that the House or Houses of the Oireachtas in conducting an inquiry shall determine the balance between the rights of persons and the public interest. It boils down very simply to what we all favour, namely, giving Parliament increased power to investigate matters in this way. It seems some of us do not trust parliamentarians to carry out an inquiry fairly.