Publication of the Fennelly report
Seán Ó Fearghaíl asks when the Fennelly commission’s report, reportedly circulated to interested parties, will be published. The Tánaiste says publication depends on the judge and parties and has no timetable.
On 8 April last year, the Fennelly commission was established. The media reported at the weekend that the report of the Fennelly commission had been circulated to interested parties. I put a question to the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, yesterday on this matter. I suppose, understandably, he was not aware of the timeline for the publication of the Fennelly report. I would expect the Tánaiste has a particular interest in its publication. Can she indicate to the House when we might expect to see it published?
Comment on this
As I said earlier, obviously, interested parties are circulated by the judge, as the chairperson of the commission of inquiry sees appropriate. I have seen the same media reports that some interim documentation has been circulated to interested parties and, obviously, as I am not an interested party, I would not have received it. When these matters are dealt with between the judge and the various parties, it will hopefully then clear the way for the subsequent publication of the report. However, I do not have any timelines. The timelines are a matter for the interested parties but even more particularly for the judge in charge of the inquiry. That is a matter for the judge to call. I do not have any information on what is proposed.