Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with some of the sentiments expressed. What has occurred regarding Maurice McCabe and his family is atrocious. There are answers that he needs and there are answers that we need. A full public tribunal of inquiry is what is required.

The cut-and-paste exercise in putting together a report is also an important element. If that is the standard in how an extremely serious report is prepared, then very difficult questions must be answered regarding what is a very dangerous way of completing something which could lead to a full investigation of a person and which could involve criminal prosecution. There are many questions to be answered in this matter. There are also many questions to be answered as to why it has taken so long for this issue to be dealt with within Tusla and why something of this nature has been left to fester. That is exactly what has happened. It has been left to fester within both the Garda and Tusla. The sooner the public tribunal is set up and the issues are fully aired, the better. If information comes through that people were involved deliberately in trying to muddy a person's name and destroy that person's family, those who were party to that type of business must be prosecuted and the appropriate penalty imposed on them for ruining someone's life. This is an extremely serious issue. It is something we cannot allow happen in any part of the State. We have checks and balances in this State with the Oireachtas, the Judiciary and State agencies and it is important all those checks and balances work properly. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with in the shortest possible period.