People Before Profit, even.

Yes.

Sixteen years ago today a young man called Terence Wheelock walked into Store Street Garda station but he never walked out. Three months later he died, having been in a coma due to the injuries he received while in custody. GSOC investigated this killing and concluded that no problems were found. GSOC is currently investigating the killing of George Nkencho and I can predict what its findings will probably be. Is the Taoiseach happy that gardaí investigating gardaí, particularly when it involves a death in their custody, is sufficient? Will he support me in calling for a public inquiry into the death of Terence Wheelock 16 years later? In recent weeks the family have acquired new evidence, including the cord from his tracksuit with which he allegedly choked himself. Will the Taoiseach now support the call for a public inquiry into this death and indeed into the death of George Nkencho? This is very important to our having faith in An Garda Síochána and to understanding that gardaí investigating gardaí is not sufficient.

These are very difficult situations for the families concerned. I do not accept the Deputy's assertion that GSOC is not independent. It is chaired by an independent chairperson, a judge. One of the difficulties we have, it seems to me, is that if, say, GSOC or HIQA carries out an investigation and its report is not deemed satisfactory or does not find what people want to be found or what Deputies or Senators believe should be found - and people might have a preconceived view as to what happened - we cannot have a public inquiry every single time after we have statutory agencies established which are independent. We really have to work out a system in this country-----

Thankfully, we do not have that many deaths in custody.

The Taoiseach, without interruption.

I am not just talking about deaths in custody.

Well, I am.

I am speaking generally, across the board. We have a number of inquiries under way. Every month someone in here wants a public inquiry into something but they are extraordinarily long and enormously expensive-----

We cannot have a lengthy debate on this important matter.

-----and their results are never satisfactory anyway to those who seek the inquiries.

Just like the Taoiseach's answers.

There is a challenge here. I am trying to be fair. We need to engage on this. Otherwise, it is the easiest thing in the world for people to come in and call for a public inquiry. GSOC is independent, or does the Deputy think it is not?

I think it is not.

Should we abolish it then?

No. I think that when there is a death in the custody of the Garda there should be an investigation that is entirely independent.

Deputies, there is no provision to have an across-the-Chamber conversation.

Of course, it should be investigated properly and by an independent body.

Please.

Sorry.

Good God. Will people please have some regard to the proper processes? Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick is spokesman for the Regional Group today.