Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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582. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he has received a request to meet the victims of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1607/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to establishing a Commission of Investigation into the circumstances surrounding the horrific crimes committed by Bill Kenneally. This has always been the case. When the Government decided, in May 2017, to announce the intention to establish the Commission, this was based on legal advice from the then Attorney General that indicated there would be severe delays if the Commission were to be established at that time. The decision was made based on a number of outstanding legal matters, including ongoing investigations into further offences, and a concern that evidence, adduced at a Commission, may impact upon future prosecutions.

Various proposals have been made as to how a Commission of Investigation may be able to operate in this context and they are being fully explored.  I have had a preliminary discussion with the Attorney General regarding this matter and have arranged to work with officials from the Attorney General’s Office to identify a methodology to allow for the early establishment of the Commission of Investigation, in such a way as not to prejudice the ongoing criminal investigations.

I am acutely aware of the pain and suffering that has been endured by the victims. Once a clear, workable, legally sound path to the establishment of the Commission is agreed with the Attorney General’s Office, I will meet with the victims, and their legal representative, at the earliest possible opportunity to brief them on the new proposals and to hear their thoughts.