Templemore statement and Dara Quigley case
Deputy McDonald sought a date for the Tánaiste to come before the House on Templemore and also raised the Dara Quigley case. The Tánaiste said the case was under investigation and did not want to cut across ongoing Committee work.
We might be able to include all if we make the questions and replies short and snappy. I call Deputy McDonald.
Comment on this
We will see what we can do. Yesterday, the Taoiseach indicated the Tánaiste would be more than happy, in fact delighted it seems, to come before the House and make a statement on the matters surrounding Templemore and some of the issues we touched on during Leaders' Questions. He also indicated the Tánaiste would be quite happy to take questions in that regard. I want to know when she proposes to do that.
When she takes to her feet on that occasion, she also should shed some light on the case of Dara Quigley, a young woman who died by suicide on 12 April. She had been detained by gardaí some days previously under the Mental Health Act. She had been walking naked in a Dublin street when detained. Garda CCTV footage of this detention was posted on Facebook, a really deplorable and revolting turn of events, and something that has brought great hardship to her family and which clearly brought very great distress to Dara. We mark her passing. When we talk about Garda culture, reform and accountability, I suppose this is the rawest end, the sharpest end, of a deplorable culture of humiliation and disregard for human beings.
I hope the Tánaiste will, as the Taoiseach promised, come before the House to make her statement and take questions. I hope also that she might shed some light on the accountability that will be held for the life of Dara Quigley.
Comment on this
In regard to the individual case the Deputy mentioned, everybody will be totally disturbed and appalled by the story that has been reported in the media and actions are following on from that. As the Deputy knows, that has been reported and there is an investigation and a GSOC inquiry. Of course, our thoughts are with that young woman's family, given the appalling and very sad sequence of events.
No doubt, the Business Committee can discuss the question of Ministers appearing before the Dáil. I just want to make the point that I do not want to in any way cut across the work the Committee of Public Accounts is doing in regard to Templemore.