Cathal Byrne
Cultural and Educational Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I join other Senators in urging the Government, including the Minister for local government, to produce the action plan on local democracy and make it a key priority to work on it over the summer so that the hard-working councillors up and down Ireland can have clarity about what exactly the changes will be as they face into another round…”
“I join colleagues in thanking so many of the staff here who make it possible for us to do our day-to-day work. That includes not only Martin Hughes and the team here in the Seanad, but also the ushers and all those who make the day-to-day life of Leinster House possible, including those who work in the restaurant, the canteen and behind t…”
“The Senator also raised the situation of the artist Emily Conway from County Mayo, who received an Arts Council bursary in recognition of her important contribution as an artist but which has created a scenario whereby her application for a blind pension has run into difficulty. I encourage him to put that down as a Commencement matter.”
“I feel there is also a responsibility on Dublin City Council to allow for that and to support local residents in the area. In fairness to Senator Andrews, he has spoken about this before in the House. I am happy to take it up with the Leader.”
“However, because the consultation with the consultant took place initially in Monaghan, the HSE refused that application. I encourage Senator Tully to perhaps raise this as a Commencement matter. There is an appeal mechanism through the HSE and the ombudsman. Perhaps that is an avenue for her constituent to pursue.”
“The Order of Business is No. 1, Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (resumed) and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m., with the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 3.45 p.m.”
The complete record
Every one of 555 lines we hold for Cathal Byrne, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 12.
“I acknowledge our guests in the Visitors Gallery, including my friend, Councillor Paddy Meade, and his guests the Carters. My understanding is that both his father and his brother served as TDs in the Dáil in the past. They are most welcome to this Chamber. I thank the Minister, Deputy Chambers, very much for joining us today. I pay tribute to him, the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and the officials in the Department on the work that has been done to date. I am the Fine Gael spokesperson on public expenditure and infrastructure. I want to raise three main points today.”
“I encourage the Minister of State to move away from the for-profit model of contracting out private hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation across the country, and to take up the State-based model which centralises provision of accommodation to immigrants who have applied for temporary and permanent protection in centralised State-run facilities. That is something that should be implemented quickly. To conclude, I acknowledge the fact that over the last number of months there have been attacks against migrants and immigrants purely motivated on racist grounds. They need to be called out and brought through the entire justice system.”
“The country cannot be afraid to say, "No, you are not entitled to remain in this country, you do not have permission to be here and you must deport yourself." In situations where individuals choose not to take up voluntary deportation, the State must deport them. We should not be afraid to come out and say that. If it is a rules-based system with a rules process and ultimately the decision is taken that an individual cannot remain in this country, then they have to be deported. I welcome the fact that there has been a 40% reduction in the number of applications for IPAS since the Minister of State took up his position. I welcome the fact that he is publishing a strategy soon. It is a very important conversation that we have to have in this Chamber. We need to move away from the emergency response.”
“It is only right and proper that those in an IPAS immigration centre who have taken up employment after being there for six months and are receiving money for that employment do actually pay a contribution towards their accommodation in that centre. I think that is fair. The Minister of State is making the right move in that area and I very much welcome it. I recognise the fact that the system must be fast. We have to have timely processing of applications. We cannot have a system in which it takes up to two years for somebody to receive a decision on whether they have permission to remain in this country. There also has to be timely processing of enforcement. That is where the firmness has to come in.”
“I recognise that so many people have come to the country legally, with permits, and taken up jobs and employment and are making a contribution to the country, be that the one in four nurses and midwives who the Minister of State highlighted were born outside the country or the almost one in four doctors who have taken up employment working for the health service delivering care across the country who were born outside the country. Ireland is not a racist country, but I do still believe fully that we need a system that is fair and has a clear and transparent set of rules. We need a rules-based system.”
“Too often in this country, we are too afraid to speak out on these issues. It is only right and proper that in the people's representatives' Chamber in this House, we actually discuss and debate these issues on every occasion. Since having been elected as a Member of the Seanad, I have come in here and spoken on migration. It is only right and proper. I thank the Minister of State for his engagement in the portfolio to date. It remains my view that we have a need in this country for an immigration system that is fair, fast and firm.”
“Any opportunity for this House to change the law in an area where individuals are ahead of the law is certainly something that is worthwhile.”
“I place on the record my support for this Bill. It is important that this House, as a Chamber representing people throughout the country, takes stock of the fact there are now so many people living together as a committed couple in the context of a relationship that is cohabitant, which traditionally might have been a married couple. Society has moved on. It is very important that everybody in this Chamber takes stock of that, reflects on it and incorporates into it the fact that if somebody's partner is bereaved, and, as we saw, a case was taken before the Supreme Court on this, that person is not in the same position as that of a married couple. I certainly support this. It is important that it passes and, hopefully, as is apparent, it looks like it will.”
“I fully support the ask of the Irish Postmasters' Union for an additional €5 million on top of the €10 million that was committed over the past three years. I attended the Oireachtas committee on communications and listened very carefully to what was said about the future model of An Post, which involves greater incorporation and delivery of State services through the existing post office network. That is something I very much support, particularly in respect of drivers' licences and passports. So many more State services could be delivered through the post office network. I hope the Minister of State will take that on board. The comment of the night was made by Senator Noonan, when he said that he had been writing letters to An Post about this and while the letters were getting delivered, the message had not been heard.”
“The Minister of State is most welcome to the Chamber. I acknowledge the presence of the many individuals in the Gallery with a strong connection to our strong and vibrant post office network. My family's involvement with An Post started when my great-grandfather served as a local postman for 40 years. My grandfather was a postman for forty-seven and a half years. Pride of place in my home place is the certificate of long achievement he received as a result of that service. I know exactly what it means to be involved in An Post. I saw first-hand the benefit my grandfather experienced as somebody who was out and about meeting people and engaging with the local community on a daily basis.”
“I thank the Minister for bringing a bit of clarity to this situation because there is a genuine feeling among farmers that attempts are being made to fully prohibit controlled burning. While I recognise that there is a closed period, this fact may not be as well known among farmers as it should be. From speaking to many farmers, particularly those in Kiltealy, which is on the Wexford side of Mount Leinster, I know there was a substantial fire in that area. There were also fires in north Wexford near Gorey only a few short weeks ago. I thank the Minister for his response. I encourage his Department to do a bit more to promote what can be done in this regard. There was a feeling there was a total prohibition on this or that perhaps a total prohibition was coming in. I recognise that that is not the case.”
“Thankfully, no property was damaged and nobody was injured but the key takeaway from that was that the fires that spontaneously broke out would not have happened to the same extent had there been more controlled burning in place by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This is an opportunity to bring clarity to the situation and confirm what exactly the position is as regards controlled burning. Is it possible for local farmers, particularly in mountain commonage areas, to engage in it?”
“The Minister is most welcome to the Chamber. This is an issue that has been raised with me by local councillors in my home county of Wexford, near Mount Leinster, but also those in Waterford, affecting the Comeragh Mountains. The key issue is that there is a feeling in farming communities that the restrictions in place to control and restrict the controlled burning of scrubland on our mountain ranges, particularly in areas grazed by sheep, are too onerous and that there is not clear communication from the National Parks and Wildlife Service about when the burning can take place and what exactly can be incorporated. In my own of Kiltealy, there were quite severe fires about two years ago.”
“I recognise the work done in securing some of these facilities across the country and the work that is continuing to be done to ensure there is resourcing and accommodation available for individuals who come to the country to seek assistance in the most difficult situations. Once those applications have been processed and have gone through the system, it is important that firm action be taken. If it is the case that somebody receives permission to remain in the country, they should be swiftly issued with a PPS number and the ability to apply for and take up employment and to make a contribution to the economy. I recognise the work done in this area to date. As my colleague outlined, the Fine Gael group supports the Minister's proposals and will be voting accordingly.”
“It is so important that the work done in this area proceed and progress, including in regard to the call for greater resources to ensure our migration system complies with the three principles of being fair, fast and firm. I acknowledge the right of many people who have concerns about the immigration system in the country. It is a conversation being had in bars, in the street, at GAA matches, in the workforce and in so many communities across the country. We should move from the emergency system we have seen in recent years, where individuals with the ability to make private accommodation available have received massive sums from the State. We should move away from that model and towards one that is State-owned, whereby the State is resourcing the accommodation.”
“It is so important that measures like these will allow for faster processing of applications and the designation of a country as a "safe country", which will allow officials in the immigration system to process those applications more swiftly. That is very important. I recognise the work the Minister has done and the work done by his predecessor, my party colleague the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, in the area of deportations. As a country, it is important that there be a mechanism that grants the State the ability to deport people who have applied for asylum and been refused and have then gone through the appeals process and, ultimately, had that application refused, and have then been asked to leave the country but have not done so.”
“I think immediately of our hospitals, healthcare system, educational institutions and hospitality sector, and the many people who have come here through the work permit programme or sought asylum, been accepted and been granted asylum and leave to remain in this country and the contribution they have all made. I recognise also the contribution of the new Irish, those individuals who have applied through our mechanisms to become Irish citizens and have been granted citizenship and the contribution they have gone on to make to the country. The other side of the coin is that it is important we have a migration system that allows for firmness and fairness, as was mentioned. It should also be fast.”
“I acknowledge our guests in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. About six years ago, I spent a week in Mr. Williams's district, believe it or not. I had a very enjoyable and pleasant time and the people there were very welcoming and accommodating. He and his family are most welcome here today. I thank the Minister very much for coming into the Chamber. As my good colleague beside me said, the Fine Gael group is supporting these motions. I will contribute in general terms about immigration. It is important that these issues be discussed in the Houses of the Oireachtas and that conversations happening among the public be reflected in this Chamber and down the hall. In a general sense, I am supportive of immigration and recognise the benefits of it.”
“When there is an attempted annexation, such as the one that occurred in 1955, and the insistence by the Government that it does not recognise the UK's territorial claims on this rock off the coast of Scotland, it is important that it continues to be discussed in the Chamber. I wish to highlight Slade pier, a key pier in Wexford, which was first raised with me last October. It is a small pier. While the local fisher community is not as large as it once it, its members have highlighted to me the direct need for grant intervention to carry out renovation upgrade works that would allow for greater fishing from that harbour. Perhaps it is something that the Minister of State will engage with me and officials from Wexford County Council over the coming months.”
“Unfortunately the European Union has not been fully fair to Irish fishermen and fishing communities as regards to access to quota, the volume of fish we can access and what happens with it. We have a unique product in Ireland with our ability to instantly supply fresh fish to restaurants and directly to the market. We are blessed to be able to do that. However, when it comes to our waters, there is a feeling, which I am sure the Minister of State has been made aware of, that we simply are not getting our fair share of access to the fish located off our coasts. I recognise the comments made on Rockall. I firmly support the Government's position, which does not recognise the British territorial claim on that island. I also commend the Minister of State on including it in his contribution.”
“The Minister of State is most welcome to the Chamber. As this is our first official engagement with him, I wish him the best of luck in his new role. I am from Wexford, a coastal county with a rich tradition of fisheries. I invite him to visit County Wexford to meet with some of our fishing communities. As a member of Fine Gael in the Seanad, I wish to recognise the great work that is being done in this area by Senator Manus Boyle. I look forward to engaging with him over the coming term. While my own tradition is more in the farming sector, I am well aware of the frustrations that have been highlighted in this debate because they have been raised directly with me during my meetings with many fishermen over the past six years.”
“I urge them, through their parliamentary party meetings, to highlight this again with the Minister for higher education and with the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Jack Chambers, to give this the priority that students in third level education and their parents deserve.”
“How can it be that the programme for Government, which was adopted by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independents, continued the commitment to eliminating the student contribution free over the lifetime of this Government but the Minister is bringing forward a proposal in the first budget of that Government to increase the student contribution fee? It is an increase of not only €400 or €300 but €1,000, resetting it to where it was. I echo the calls of my colleagues to work with the parties in government, and our friends in opposition, to highlight the need for this contribution to be eliminated, beginning in this year's budget, the first of this Government. I heard what was said by some of my Government colleagues in Fianna Fáil earlier about the Minister for Finance, but this is actually in the remit of the Minister for public expenditure.”
“To be frank about it, I was surprised when I heard the contribution by the Minister for higher education saying he saw this as a cost-of-living measure as opposed to a sustained commitment in the programme for Government to continue the work that began under the now Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, and the previous Minister for higher education, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, in eliminating the student contribution fee. There has been quite a concerning amount of uncertainty throughout the comments of the Minister in this whole area.”
“I rise today in support of my party colleagues in the continued efforts by the Fine Gael group of Senators to highlight the need for the Minister for higher education, Deputy James Lawless, to sustain and continue the cuts in the student contribution fee that were made in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 budget announcements. On 5 May, I seconded the motion brought forward by my party colleagues in support of the continued reduction in the student contribution fee.”
“I have seen situations where a housing estate was constructed in 2010, 2011 or 2012 and a second phase was built later. In some cases individuals who moved in during the second phase were living next door to people who moved in during phase one and there was that element of uncertainty and an element of unfairness. The Fine Gael group is supporting this legislation and the key decisions to increase the bands by 20%. The Minister has, with this piece of legislation, found the balance between the need for affordability while ensuring local authorities can forecast and budget for the next five years.”
“The vast majority of people will not see any difference in the contribution they are making above and beyond the 3% to 6% that was flagged across the 20 bands. I remember when discussing this issue a number of years ago, there was a concern that if a house which was constructed before 2013 did not fall under the existing local property tax rules, it would therefore be pushed into a higher bracket than would otherwise have been the case than if that house has existed in 2012. I think that now, and the Minister might come back on this point, any house that has been constructed since 2013 will fall under the LPT regime but will be done so on the same basis as the valuations that apply to all other properties under this scheme.”
“One of the key things from that debate is that those who say it is not possible to raise the base rate are always happy to attend the ribbon cutting ceremonies, to be at the official opening and to be supportive of the projects, but when the time comes to take the difficult decision to raise the rate, they are nowhere to be seen. That is democracy in action but there is an element of hypocrisy in appearing at ceremonies to open events which were voted down when it came to funding them. It is important to make that point. The fact that 96% of individual homeowners should see no change to the band they are in as a result of the decision to increase base rate of the bands by 20% is an important point to get out there in the public domain.”
“In Wexford town we have seen ambitious plans and the acquisition of the Trinity Wharf site which, when fully developed, provides Wexford town with the ability to have a ready-to-go site for foreign direct investment and which ultimately will be the home of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA. In New Ross we have seen ambitious plans from the decision first taken in 2018 by Wexford County Council to increase the property tax base rate now realised on street refurbishment, and we recently had the opening of Brennan's Lane in New Ross by the Minister's colleague, the Minister, Deputy Calleary. The reason I raise this is because these were all projects directly funded by that decision taken by Wexford county councillors and, at the time, strongly opposed.”
“I genuinely believe we need a strong system of local government in this country and that we do suffer as a country from having, at times, too centralised a model. I very much welcome the opportunity for local authorities to take the decision to vary their local authority base rate on the LPT by up to 25%. Wexford, as a county, that saw the benefit of the 15% increase, we specifically took the decision to ring-fence the additional revenue that was brought in - approximately slightly more than €1 million a year - for key projects. In my town of Enniscorthy, the council acquired the ability to develop a 38-acre site for the Enniscorthy Technology Park, investing €2.5 million in a state-of-the-art office building with plans to construct an advance factory.”
“As someone who has facilitated constituents in Wexford in making those applications, I pay tribute to the Revenue officials who deal with the request for deferrals in such a courteous manner. It is important to note that. I spent five and a half years as an elected member of Wexford County Council where we utilised the ability of the local authority to increase and vary the local property tax by 15%. That decision was not taken lightly. As someone who voted on five occasions for that measure, first as a 10% increase to the base rate and thereafter to a 15% increase, that was a difficult decision to take. We saw first-hand the return that was given directly from that decision. I am a strong believer in local government.”
“This is so important when we consider the fact that, right across the country, there has been an increase in property values and that individuals who have no intention of selling their family home and intend to remain in it for the rest of their days will not be caught out and penalised as they would have been had the decision to widen the bands not been taken and included as part of this legislation. It is important there is an emphasis given to the deferral scheme that exists under this legislation so that individuals who find themselves in a position of not being able to make the payment immediately have the option to apply, through the Revenue, for that deferral.”
“By ensuring we now move to a five-year period of valuations, we are allowing homeowners to have certainty about what their property tax liability will be as regards the valuations right up until 2030. That is so important that there are not up and down valuations year on year and uncertainty giving rise to confusion. In regard to maintaining the 20 bands we have and ensuring there is a 20% widening of those bands, we are, in effect, making sure individuals who have seen a rise in the value of their home will not be overly burdened by the market increasing.”
“I welcome the Minister. I am speaking on behalf of Fine Gael in the absence of our finance spokesperson, Senator Joe O’Reilly, who sends his apologies. He is abroad attending a meeting of the Council of Europe today. I welcome to the House Senator Boyle's brother, Councillor Michael Boyle, and his guests. They are most welcome and I wish Michael the very best of luck in his new role on Donegal County Council. I support this legislation. There are a number of key points I want to highlight. It is so important when it comes to any taxation policy, in my opinion, that we ensure we balance the need for affordability with providing consistency and stability, ensuring that people and individuals are aware of what their liability will be into the future. This legislation does exactly that.”
“The HSE should set out a similar key target for people in nursing homes or residential institutions, or those who have mobility access issues, so they have the opportunity to avail of dentistry services and check-ups over the years. I would like the officials in the Department and the HSE to look at a pilot programme in this area. If we are to see this rolled out, we need a pilot programme in order that we can learn from what works and what does not. I am aware, as are many of my colleagues, of the issues relating to access to dentistry places and the training of and number of dentists and dental hygienists. However, there is an option for a pilot in this area that should be explored further. I welcome the contributions from across the House in support of this motion. I want to put my full weight behind it.”
“One of the key principles under Sláintecare is the principle of equitable access to healthcare, and introducing a mobile dentistry unit would help with that. I am struck by the fact that in 2017 it was the now Tánaiste and then Minister for Health, Simon Harris, who introduced the changes to PRSI to allow for free scale and polish services both for PAYE taxpayers and those who are self-employed. That was introduced to help to ensure there is equal access to dentistry services for adults. When it comes to children, as has been highlighted by my colleagues, school-going children should have three dentist appointments.”
“It is not currently possible for people who have mobility issues and are not able to attend at a dental clinic or surgery, or those who are permanently living in a nursing home or residential institution, to avail of dentistry surgeries through the public system. Instead, they are dependent on having either private medical health insurance or a private provider giving up their own time and making mobile dentistry clinics available to them. When one considers the priorities under the Sláintecare model, which is to deliver timely surgeries and treatments at the best place, that currently does not exist. This motion is calling for that, and I am grateful to my colleagues in Fine Gael for accepting it to be included in this motion.”
“I thank the Minister of State for attending the Chamber to hear this important motion introduced by my Fine Gael party colleagues. It is refreshing, having listened to many of the contributions that have been made across the Chamber, that there is cross-party unity on this issue that is important for so many people across the country. At the outset, I will speak on the need for mobile dentistry units to be introduced specifically to deal with patients in nursing homes and those with mobility issues. This issue was highlighted to me while canvassing during the last general election. The point was made that the HSE does not currently provide a scheme, mechanism or programme for mobile dentistry units.”
“In that regard, I welcome the fact that the Government has committed to bringing forward legislation in this area and that is in exceptional and limited circumstances.”
“Last year, when speaking on the motions on this legislation in the Dáil, the Minister for justice said it is our duty to ensure that those tasked with protecting us from the threat of terrorism, organised crime and ensuring public safety have at their disposal the appropriate measures to do so. In that instance, I place on the record of the House my support for these motions and the continued renewal of these measures for another 12 months. I recognise that the majority of those on the independent review group, in making their conclusion, said that there is an ongoing need for a non-jury court as permitted by the Irish Constitution to try serious criminal offences in certain limited and exceptional circumstances.”
“The reality here is that these are some of the most serious offences against the Irish people and against the State and these powers are to be utilised in limited circumstances. That is why it is appropriate that, in the report circulated to both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Minister laid out exactly the specific number of times that each of these offences occurred and the provisions of the legislation were actually used. They show that it is in limited circumstances. However, as the Minister said earlier, it is important that it is ensured that An Garda Síochána, in those limited circumstances, is equipped to meet the challenges of the opponents of peace.”
“I want to speak for a moment about some of the specifics that we, by supporting this measure, are equipping An Garda Síochána with in these limited circumstances. Under section 2, we will allow the use of inferences to be drawn from a failure to answer questions about membership of an unlawful organisation. Under section 7, we are criminalising possession of an article, substance or item giving rise to a reasonable suspicion that it is intended for use in connection with or related to terrorism or subversive activities. Under section 14, we are enhancing the powers of An Garda Síochána by allowing a person under investigation for membership of an unlawful organisation or for terrorist activities to be detained for up to 72 hours without charge.”
“Effectively, having read and reviewed the report from the Minister for justice that was laid before the Oireachtas, the members of An Garda Síochána have again reiterated clearly in it the need for these exceptional measures contained within the Special Criminal Court to be continued for another year. It is right and proper that, in a democracy, we debate these issues and that they are reviewed every 12 months. However, having reflected and taken into account the contribution from the Minister of State and the views of An Garda Síochána about the need for this legislation to be continued, I think it is only right and proper that it is reviewed and continued for another year. I am specifically drawn by a number of the measures, and I have reviewed the legislation.”
“The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. Like my party colleagues, I will speak in support of the motion. I am particularly struck by the comments of some colleagues who spoke about the fact that our Constitution underpins the need for a right to trial by a jury. It also allows, when the framers were framing our Constitution, under Article 38.3, for special courts to be established by law for trial of offences in such cases where it may be determined, in accordance with the law, that the ordinary courts are inadequate to service the effective administration of justice and the preservation of public peace and order.”
“I thank the Minister of State, and I welcome the commitment by the Government in the House today to funding the next phase, which is the design and environmental evaluation phase. It will be good news for the residents in the area. One specific question that I ask the Minister to take up with his colleagues in Government and the Department of Transport is responsibility for the speed limit. There was quite a lot of discussion at the public meeting on the speed limit, whether it is to be set as a national road by TII or if it is the responsibility of Kilkenny County Council. Is there an opportunity to reduce that speed limit as it exists in those three high-collision areas from 100 km/h to 80 km/h? Perhaps the Department and the officials might come back to me on that.”
“It has been revitalised now and is progressing its way through the eight phases of development with TII. I would like an update on where exactly this project is and what funding commitment is there. Unfortunately, to have a stretch of road in 2025 that has seen 12 fatalities in the past number of years is simply unacceptable. This road upgrade deserves prioritisation and the advocacy of that group. I commend the group on mobilising the local area. A total of 600 people is not an insignificant number to attend a public meeting.”
“The audience heard from local residents, the IFA, representatives of farming groups, the road haulage industry and representatives of truck drivers who travel that road and also, most significantly and poignantly, residents who unfortunately had suffered bereavement. In recent years there have been 12 fatalities, four of which have occurred since 2022. This road sees approximately 15,000 journeys and really serves as the main gateway for anybody in the south east who is travelling to work in Waterford city. Many people in my own County Wexford travel this stretch of road. Since 2007 there have been discussions on upgrading this road. In fact, detailed design was done until 2011 when, unfortunately, due to the economic circumstances at the time, the project was shelved.”
“I thank the Minister of State for attending this morning. I believe this is our first official interaction in this House. He is most welcome. I want to highlight a stretch of the N25 road which runs from the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy bridge in County Wexford, through south Kilkenny and into Waterford city. I am referring specifically to the stretch from the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy bridge to the Luffany roundabout at Slieverue. On Monday night I attended a public meeting organised by a local committee campaigning for safety improvements and upgrading of the N25. Approximately 600 people were in attendance.”
“I do not think the commission of investigation framework we have at the moment has lived up to the hope of Senator McDowell when he introduced that legislation all the way back in 2003. I recognise the programme for Government commitment to advance disability rights with a new strategy by 2030. It is very important when we are discussing Grace that I conclude where I started. Given Grace's level of disability, unfortunately, she is unaware of what we are discussing today and the fact there was an inquiry into the circumstances of her life. It is important that we constantly put her front and centre in our minds when we discuss this issue.”
“Unfortunately, in a general sense, we have not achieved that. Our whole model of operating commissions of investigation which run for years and years, with significant legal fees and a large cost to the taxpayer, while establishing the facts is taking too long and costing too much. The move away from tribunals to commissions of investigation, in my opinion, has not worked and we need to reflect on this. As a Government, another look must be taken at how it is that the State is failing to swiftly and cost-effectively get to grips with ascertaining a set of facts when something goes wrong. These issues will pop up in the future and it is very important there is a mechanism to investigate them. However, it has to be a swifter and more cost-effective model.”