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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Brandon report publication

Summary

Deputy Doherty again pressed for full publication of the Brandon report on abuse at Ard Gréine Court. The Tánaiste said the Minister of State wanted it published but the Attorney General advised it could not be released in full; he would raise possible redacted publication and also offered condolences on Ashling Murphy's death.

I want to raise again with the Tánaiste an issue I have raised a number of times. This is the need for the Brandon report to be published in full. It found there were 108 incidents of sexual abuse perpetrated against at least 18 intellectually disabled residents by another resident between 2003 and 2016 at the Ard Gréine Court complex, Stranorlar, County Donegal. The publication of the report has been blocked at every turn by the HSE, the Garda and now by the Attorney General, according to reports in The Irish Times and by RTÉ. The Attorney General has legitimate concerns relating to victims families' rights to confidentiality. Equally there are legitimate rights in the desire of some families to have the report published in full. If any family wants personal information withheld, it can be redacted and the full report published. Does the Tánaiste, who is leader of his party, agree? If so, what will he do to ensure the full report will be published?

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I thank the Deputy. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, was very keen to have this report published in full. She sought the advice of the Attorney General whose very strong legal advice was that it could not be published in full for reasons that have been explained. The Deputy is asking me whether it could be published in a redacted form. That I do not know. Perhaps it can be but it is something I will take up with the Minister.

I did not have a chance to speak in the House yesterday and very briefly I want to add my condolences to those expressed yesterday to Ashling Murphy's family, friends, community and colleagues. This unimaginable tragedy is one that has left the country reeling. I know it particularly resonated with so many women as their worst fears were realised. As a society, with the Government leading, we must do much more to make sure it does not happen again and women do not live in that fear. I heard some of what was said in the House yesterday. The powerful and shocking testimony by Members, particularly female Members, makes clear how determined and united we all are on this issue. I thank the Garda for the immense work it is doing on this case. I reiterate on behalf of the Government and on my own behalf a request for people to desist from speculation on the matter and to allow the justice process to take its course.

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