Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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50. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will clarify the outcome of her meeting with the family of a person (details supplied); if she has considered their demand for an independent public inquiry into their death; if she can report on the status of the scoping inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60611/22]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she intends to establish an independent public inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied) as previously agreed by both Houses of the Oireachtas. [60568/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 60 and 472 together.

In February 2019, retired District Court Judge Gerard Haughton was appointed by the then Minister for Justice and Equality to carry out a scoping exercise in light of the public controversy surrounding the circumstances of the death of Shane O'Farrell.

The purpose of the scoping exercise was to advise the Minister as to whether any further investigation or inquiry beyond those already carried out was necessary and, if so, to advise on the form of such investigation or inquiry and its terms of reference.

Judge Haughton submitted his final report to Minister McEntee on 1 June 2022. Since receipt of the final report, the advice of the Attorney General was sought and received in relation to the issue of publication and other matters arising.

Minister McEntee wrote to each Department/Agency responsible for issues giving rise to recommendations in the Report and on 27 July Minister McEntee provided the O’Farrell family with a copy of the report on a strictly confidential basis.  I also understand that Minister McEntee, together with the Taoiseach, recently met with members of the O’Farrell family regarding the report, both in terms of content and publication.

As I have just taken over this Ministerial portfolio, I will need to consider this important report myself before deciding on how best to proceed in the light of its recommendations.