Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposal for the inquiry into the Grangegorman murders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35740/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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On foot of my proposal, which was made with the approval of the Minister for Finance, the Government decided yesterday that a commission of investigation should be established into the making of a confession by the late Dean Lyons about the tragic deaths of Ms Mary Callinan and Ms Sylvia Shiels in March 1997 in Grangegorman, Dublin 7.

Arrangements will now be made to have the relevant draft order and statement of reasons for establishing the commission laid before each House of the Oireachtas for approval as required by the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. Thereafter the order establishing the commission will be made by Government.

While the formal terms of reference will be set by me once that process has been completed I intend to ask the commission to examine and report on the circumstances arising from the making of a confession by Dean Lyons, deceased, about the deaths of Ms Mary Callinan and Ms Sylvia Shiels in March 1997 in Grangegorman Dublin 7; the adequacy of the Garda assessment of the reliability of Mr. Lyons's confession, both before and after he was charged with murder; and the adequacy of information provided by the Garda Síochána on the morning of 27 July 1997 to the Director of Public Prosecutions and in particular whether any additional information should have been provided at that time. The commission will be headed by Mr. George Birmingham SC and will be independent with full statutory powers to summon witnesses and take sworn evidence.

While the commission's terms of reference will focus on the specific circumstances of the Dean Lyons case I also intend to establish an expert group to conduct a more general review of relevant Garda practices, including training, protocols, regulations and procedures — as existed in 1997 and as exist now. I intend to publish the reports of both the commission and the expert group.