Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion

Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion

Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Senator Ivana Bacik: I move:

That Seanad Éireann resolves that the terms of reference contained in the Resolution passed by Dáil Éireann on 23 March 2005 and by Seanad Éireann on 24 March 2005, as amended by the Resolutions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on 1 June 2011 and the Resolution passed by Dáil Éireann on 16 November 2011 and by Seanad Éireann on 17 November 2011, pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921 to 2004, be further amended in paragraph (IV) by substituting “31 October, 2012” for “31 May, 2012”.

Senator Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome the opportunity to debate this, although, as others have indicated, there is clear support for this motion across the floor of the House.

It is difficult to argue with the clear and cogent arguments put forward by the tribunal chair. As the Minister stated, since his interim report on 8 March of this year, the tribunal has heard evidence from a further 18 witnesses and some reports in the newspapers suggest that they were unforeseen or unscheduled at that time. The reports suggest that they were witnesses who had previously stated they would not come forward. Clearly, that was not anticipated and it will require further time.

The other cogent reason is the indisposition through illness of a substantive witness, somebody the tribunal chair considers to be the tribunal's final substantive witness. It is unarguable that the tribunal should be given the extension of time sought.

In listening to colleagues, I am struck by the phrase “tribunal fatigue”, which may be setting in given how many tribunals there have been and given the lengthy time which some of them have taken in coming to findings, and yet they have done great service as well in terms of the findings that have been made over the years in particular tribunals.

The case for this was clearly set out in the Minister's speech. It was established in 2005, arising out of the Weston Park talks in 2001. Clearly, there is great sensitivity attaching to the work the tribunal is doing and it is important that it is publicly facilitated in addressing the serious allegations of collusion that were made, and which gave rise to the tribunal.

I am delighted there is cross-party support for this. As Senator Cullinane stated, we all agreed previously it would be wrong to rush the work of the tribunal and we need to give it this extra time. We look forward to the report on 31 October and to debating it in this House when we have read and digested the findings.