The Deputy will appreciate that the Disclosures Tribunal, with Mr Justice Peter Charleton as its Sole Member, has now commenced its work.
Among the matters it has been asked to investigate are:
'the creation, distribution and use by TUSLA of a file containing false allegations of sexual abuse against Sergeant Maurice McCabe...' and contacts between members of An Garda Síochána and, among others, members of the Government, any other State entities, or any relevant person as the Sole Member may deem necessary to carry out his work relevant to this and other matters.
In the circumstances, I am constrained in adding anything to the information which I have already supplied to the House about this matter.
I would, however, make the general point that I have no ministerial responsibility in relation to TUSLA; nor do I or my Department have access to its records. Equally, it would not fall within my remit to take any action in relation to matters which may have arisen within TUSLA in dealing with an individual case.
I can also confirm that prior to the broadcast of a recent Prime Time programme, my Department had no knowledge of the details of any interaction between the Minister or Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the person affected arising from this matter.