Under the programme for Government, the Government has committed to continued support for victim groups representing victims of the violence in Northern Ireland and to promote reconciliation. Can the Tánaiste please comment on the appointment of Mr. Drew Harris as the Garda Commissioner given the Truth and Reconciliation Platform has described it as a massive step backwards and a hammer blow to victims and survivors of British security services in collusion with loyalist gangs? Mr. Drew Harris has been accused by a judge in Belfast of seriously compromising the historical inquiries team. This issue has to be brought into the open. Are we seriously saying, in the context of the onset of Brexit and all the problems that might bring, that we are going to compromise the historical inquiries team and the cases which relate to historical victims by appointing Mr. Harris to the role of Garda Commissioner without his answering the allegations that have been made against him? Will the Tánaiste consider setting up a special inquiry committee so that the leaders of parties in this House and the survivors of those tragedies can question the new Garda Commissioner about these extraordinarily serious allegations?

I have been involved in the discussions on how structures can be put in place to deal with legacy issues. I have met many families, both unionist and nationalist, since I started this job, which I am privileged to have. The stories are heartbreaking; families have been waiting for far too long for truth and justice in many cases. There is a big responsibility on everybody, whether in the context of police forces, governments, politicians or community leaders, to co-operate with those structures. A public consultation process is currently under way in Northern Ireland on dealing with legacy issues and legacy structures, and that will continue. To try to bring Mr. Drew Harris into this in a way that potentially undermines him before he even starts his new job as Garda Commissioner is wrong. He has been through a long and testing recruitment process and has come through it as the best candidate. It says a lot about Ireland that is positive - that we are accepting and largely welcoming of the second most senior officer in the Police Service of Northern Ireland to lead An Garda Síochána and manage the reform that is required going into the future.

Nobody is trying to bring Mr. Harris into this. He is already involved in it. I am just asking for an opportunity to question him.

Please, Deputy.

The Government will support Mr. Harris in that, as well as supporting a transparent and appropriate set of structures to ensure we can move forward-----

This is not an appropriate time to have a debate about this particular matter.

It is absolutely appropriate.

It is absolutely not the appropriate time.

When would it be appropriate?

This concerns the programme for Government.

If the Deputy wants to raise a Topical Issue matter, for example, she is welcome to do so.

I raised a Topical Issue matter on this but the Ceann Comhairle refused to take it today.

The Deputy can raise the matter again.