Apart from investigations, which may be initiated independently by the Garda or the Revenue Commissioners, there are other mechanisms available to the Government for the investigation of matters of public concern. These include ministerial investigations, which can be initiated on a statutory or non-statutory basis, and investigations into the affairs of companies under the Companies Act, 1990. There are also mechanisms available for people who feel aggrieved by decisions of public bodies to appeal to, for example, the Social Welfare Appeals Office, An Bord Pleanála or the Ombudsman.
I have asked the Government Chief Whip to conduct a wide-ranging examination of the ways in which matters of public concern are dealt with, particularly in other countries, and to report to myself and the Tánaiste as soon as possible.
The purpose of this examination is to find a more cost-effective means of conducting inquiries into matters of major public concern other than beef-type tribunals. In so doing the Government will ensure that any new procedure proposed will provide that any investigations undertaken will use fair procedures, as guaranteed by Article 40.3 of the Constitution.