Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2018
147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied with progress relating to the statutory inquiries underway following the IRM process; and his views on the budget and timescale for same. [7880/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy refers to five statutory inquiries established under Orders made by my predecessor on 15 May 2017. These Orders appointed a separate retired judge to conduct each Inquiry.
The Deputy will appreciate that each Inquiry is different in terms of scope and volume of documentation. While each of them was requested to report within six months, it has not proved possible to complete the inquiries within that timeframe. I have recently received update reports from each of the judges concerned regarding the progress of their respective Inquiries.
Arising from those progress reports, I recently granted extensions to the timescales of each Inquiry. I believe that it is in the interests of all involved that the inquiries be given sufficient time to examine and report on the issues in question. I now expect to receive the first of these final reports by 31 March 2018.
I believe that the resources available to these Inquiries will be sufficient to enable them to complete this work.
