Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I suppose we had all better make declarations. I was not on the trip to the Japan either in case any questions arise and I would not have had the time to participate. I hope that the Cathaoirleach got on very well on his trip and represented the country well, as I am sure that he did.

I wish to raise the issue of the so-called review of what happened at Capel Street last week. Is the Labour Party not mortified about these shenanigans? It was in the newspapers today claiming credit for helping to draft the speech read by the Minister for Justice and Equality in the Dáil last night. A speech in which he prejudged the outcome of the so-called review that will take place into the documentation. A review that any of us could carry out if we simply conducted an Internet search or gathered the documents together. It is completely worthless.

I want to ask the Deputy Leader the following question. Why has a commission of investigation not been appointed regarding the matter? Why has the Government not proposed that the Oireachtas would appoint one? As the Taoiseach has said, no witnesses will be called, nothing is going to happen, there will be no powers of compellability. Therefore, if someone does not tell the truth there will be no consequences and if the documentation is flawed or incomplete there will be no consequences. The only way to get to the bottom of the issue is through a commission of investigation. I am certain that if the Labour Party Members were on this side of the House they would be the main people pushing for an investigation. This matter must be very embarrassing for them. It was outrageous last night that the Minister prejudged the outcome. It was more outrageous on Monday when the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice and Equality demanded that the GSOC, a statutory and independent body, be dragged into the Oireachtas and be dragged into the Minister's office.

The committee hearings that are taking place with the GSOC - I will participate in one today - should not have happened. The GSOC should not have had to explain the matter to the Oireachtas. It is not required to do so under Statute but is required to report on certain things such as financial and administrative matters. The GSOC must be independent. Its independence has been badly damaged in the past week and will be further damaged by the proposed review which is so incomplete, wrong and out of tune with the Labour Party's history on all of these issues.