David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

During this session, both Seanad Éireann and Dáil Éireann passed detailed motions on the death of Shane O'Farrell and calling for an independent public inquiry. The Government responded by kicking the matter into touch and appointing Judge Haughton to conduct a scoping inquiry. Judge Haughton, who is a very decent man, made recommendations in respect of the terms of reference but they were completely ignored by the Government, which is astonishing.

The Department of Justice and Equality has done the following: removed references to Shane, and to the family's rights under the European Court of Human Rights to ensure an effective investigation into the unlawful killing; removed consideration of the prosecution of Shane's case or of the coroner's inquest into Shane's death, in which serious irregularities have emerged; limited the judge to take into account the outcome of prepared reports that are, in the family's view, deficient, rather than a review of the investigations behind the reports, as originally envisaged in the February terms of reference; and removed any investigation into the previous prosecutions of the accused, despite him being in breach of multiple counts of bail when he killed Shane. I again call, therefore, for an independent public inquiry. I do not understand how the Government can defy the majority wishes of both Houses of Parliament.

On another example of kicking the can down the road, what will happen in the case of Standing Order 41? I have raised the issue consistently and there is universal agreement on it, but it was kicked into touch by referring it to the Dáil.