Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit and thank him for coming in to take this matter on the Adjournment.
This is a sad story concerning a woman named Bríd Cummins, a former journalist who had mental health issues. She fought eviction by Galway City Council from the council house she was living in and was subsequently found dead in her flat the night officials turned up to get back the keys of the house from her.
This issue has also been highlighted by a former employee in the housing section of Galway City Council, in her recently published book, Abuse of Power: Because Councils Can,which also chronicles her own struggles with officials in City Hall. She was tenant liaison officer with the council in September 2003 when she was first asked to accompany a neighbour of Ms Cummins to the offices of the local authority solicitors to help take out an injunction against Ms Cummins. She refused, believing it morally unethical to provide the services of the council's legal team to a private citizen. She also refused to sign off on a statement made by a former neighbour of Ms Cummins which was to be used in evidence in the council's eviction case.
The lady in question, Ms Grace, believed the statement was an off-the-record solicited rant from an unreliable witness, made years after she had left the flat, who did not want it used in court. The statement was used to paint a picture of Ms Cummins' alleged anti-social behaviour. Six months after the first incident, Ms Grace was let go. She had been the council's first liaison officer, a role she had developed over seven years, and funding was obtained to expand and develop the role and three positions were created.
I have a number of questions on this issue. I raised the issue with the Leader previously and he suggested I raise the matter on the Adjournment. Does the Minister feel he has a role in investigating the issues that have been highlighted in the book regarding the power of CEOs and unelected people in local authorities? This is at the core of this issue. Although Bríd Cummins suffered a sad demise, some of the characters mentioned in the book and in the documents put together in it went on to bigger and better things. One of the people involved has gone on to become the manager and CEO of Sligo County Council. For that reason-----