Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has concluded her deliberations in relation to the report into the death of a person (details supplied) and if she will publish this report. [60567/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.