I will not prejudge this matter; it is too serious for that. I would not do it even if it were a trivial matter in relation to any case. Investigations were instigated by me on receipt of the question put down by Deputy Higgins, in other words, when the matter was brought to my attention. An official of my Department who has been investigating this matter at my request has completed the inquiries which he considers appropriate. I understand the same is true of the Garda inquiries.
It would be entirely inappropriate for either the official concerned or the Garda authorities to draw final conclusions or to make a final report in circumstances where the matters they have been examining may fall to be considered and adjudicated on by a court of law. I understand the President of the District Court has suspended his investigation pending the outcome of the judicial review proceedings. The clearly correct path is for the judicial review proceedings to be determined by the courts and, when the position is clear, decide whether action is warranted. There are no circumstances under which I could possibly prejudge an issue such as this and I will not do so. It would be wrong.