Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to arrange for the Taoiseach to come to the House to explain why the Government specifically provided in the legislation establishing the banking inquiry that access to Cabinet minutes and supporting documents that gave rise to decisions being taken would not be available to the banking inquiry. It seems incongruous that any inquiry could get to the heart of fundamental decisions made without having access to the documents that may have underpinned those decisions. The Taoiseach should be asked to come to this House to explain how and why this happened.

Given the manner in which the banking inquiry has been established, it is perceived as a political charade. I believe it will be devoid of credibility, which is unfortunate. I suggest that even at this late stage an independent judicial inquiry be established. That is the only process that would have the power to access all of the documentation necessary and have the powers of compellability and so on that will be essential in getting to the heart of what gave rise to the banking collapse and economic crisis in this country. I believe we should have that debate.

I would like to ask each of the group leaders to take up an issue raised yesterday by one of my colleagues, namely, the case of Meriam Ibrahim, the south Sudanese woman who has been incarcerated now for a number of months and gave birth to her baby in prison. She has not, as suggested by some people, been released. While it has been suggested on numerous occasions that she is to be released this has not happened. In fact, she has been sentenced to 100 lashes and execution. We are told that her execution will take place when her child is two years old. This woman has been incarcerated because she is a Christian. As a Christian country, we should have empathy with her. This is a huge human rights issue. I ask that the group leaders come together to draft a cross-party motion calling for her release as early as possible, which motion could be put before the House and would, I am sure, be supported by all who believe in human rights.