I wish to raise a matter that goes to the heart of our democracy. This House is the forum where the Government responds to the people's representatives. Two years ago a young man died in a night club incident in Cork. Despite two investigations by the Director of Public Prosecutions, no charges have been brought.
This young man's father is on hunger strike outside the gates of Leinster House. Yesterday evening, after four weeks of attempting to raise the matter, Deputy Bernard Allen was given permission by the Ceann Comhairle to raise it in the House. The reply was given by the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Callely, who said that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was unavoidably absent. It later transpired that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was present in the Dáil bar and chose not to come into the Chamber to respond to the sensitive and important matter raised by Deputy Allen concerning the death of a young man.
This is not the first time this has happened with this Government which is the most arrogant Government we have had in the past 30 years. The Taoiseach is not in the House on Thursdays, the Minister for Finance and his Ministers of State were at Cheltenham when the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003 was going through the House. We have health publications being leaked to journalists and public relations personnel training the Minister to respond to difficult issues that might arise.
I ask the Taoiseach to outline the reasons why the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform chose not to be here last night. I would like the Taoiseach to give a lead on this and to give instructions that where possible on sensitive matters such as this, Ministers come to the House and answer questions from the representatives of the people when they are given time in this House. I ask the Taoiseach to instruct the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to go and speak to Mr. Moynihan outside the gates of Leinster House, to bring him into his Department and to explain to him why justice has not been done in this case and what he intends to do to ensure that some charge is brought against somebody in respect of the death of a young man two years ago. This represents contemptuous treatment of the House and the people, and it goes right to the essence of our democracy. The Taoiseach, as leader of the Government, should see to it that his Ministers respond to questions on behalf of the people in the House.