asked the Minister for Justice if it is his intention to proceed now with the judicial inquiry into allegations of political interference with the Garda in accordance with the undertaking given in the Fine Gael-Labour Programme for Government.

I do not think that, at this stage, it is necessary in the public interest to expend scarce financial resources on a judicial inquiry into this matter. My predecessor has taken a number of steps, some of which remain to be completed, to ensure that the Garda Síochána are protected from improper political interference.

I take it that the Minister is aware that the Joint Programme for Government states clearly that a full judicial inquiry would be initiated to investigate all allegations of political interference with the Garda, not an inquiry by the Minister, his predecessor or anybody else? Will the Minister say whether a full judicial inquiry is to be held or are we to accept that, like his predecessor, he is going to deny the House the opportunity of having such an inquiry, as promised?

This road has been well travelled by Deputy Woods with my predecessor and, as I have pointed out, a number of steps have been taken — some remain to be completed but we are proceeding with them — to ensure that the Garda Síochána are protected from improper political interference. In those circumstances I do not think it is necessary to expend the scarce financial resources in the way the Deputy suggests.

It is extraordinary how the Minister is always reluctant to expend resources on something which might be embarrassing from the Government's point of view.

It would not be one bit embarrassing.

Is the Minister aware that the Leader of the Opposition before leaving Government had initiated a process and asked the President of the High Court to provide a High Court judge to sit on a judicial inquiry and that the Leader of the Minister's party had given an undertaking to follow through with a similar independent judicial inquiry? Is the Minister aware that that took place and, if so, does he not feel that a judicial inquiry would be more appropriate?

I do not feel that a judicial inquiry would be more appropriate in view of the steps we have taken which I referred to and which were outlined by my predecessor on a number of occasions.

I asked the Minister if he was aware that the President of the High Court had been invited to nominate a High Court judge. Is the Minister claiming that he is not aware of that? Will he go back to his Leader and ask him?

I am not claiming anything at all.

Will the Minister answer "yes" or "no"? Will the Minister say something?

If the Deputy says so that is what was done.

That is all I wanted to know.