I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the time today. The recent "Crimes and Confessions" series has shone a spotlight on the interrogation and investigation of innocent people by some members of An Garda Síochána: people including Nicky Kelly, Osgur Breatnach and the Hayes family in my constituency. We have heard allegations of bullying, assaults and torture. We heard about statements that were tailored or, in the words of the Hayes family solicitor Mr. Patrick Mann, "dovetailed" to fit the information that they had. I ask the Taoiseach to support an independent statutory public inquiry into the investigation and prosecution of these people, compliant with international human rights standards and under a recognised judicial figure.

Generally, we need to reflect on the broad issue of having statutory public inquiries one after the other, irrespective of this, and I do not believe anybody would doubt that these are serious cases the Deputy has raised.

Previously, the Oireachtas decided to have statutory inquiries that have gone on for five, six or seven years with no conclusion. It is not a model that is working.

The apologies are not-----

The inquiry model is not working, if I am honest. It takes an inordinate length of time for them to conclude at an extraordinary cost. Deputies have referred to Siteserv. I could name them all. I am making the point that we all genuinely felt the need to have-----

Then find another model.

We have. A commission of inquiry was meant to be an alternative model to a public inquiry.

Time is up, Taoiseach.

There is a lack of capacity in this country to have an inquiry without an adversarial dimension, barristers and lawyering up-----

The apology-----

I have to make the point. I want to be fair.

The Taoiseach could answer the question.

It might be a Topical Issue, Deputy.

I am answering the question. The easy answer is to say "Yes" or "No". It is a more honest to ask whether we need to interrogate this model before we start an inquiry. Every week someone asks for an inquiry about something.

The Taoiseach should not trivialise this.

I am not trivialising it; I am serious about this. We need to analyse this as an Oireachtas because it is the Oireachtas that decides to have inquiries, but they take an extraordinary length of time and are not giving people closure at the end of it all.

The Taoiseach does not want to respond to the question.

I am serious. I will meet with party leaders to discuss this, if the Deputy wishes. We need a discussion about this.

I would like the Taoiseach to give people answers to their questions-----

I am giving the answer, but the Deputy-----

-----and not trivialise it-----

I could name seven inquiries that there should be in Northern Ireland about the activities of your movement over the years, but we have never had them. Talk to the people in Northern Ireland who were kneecapped for decades. There was never any closure.

(Interruptions).

I will meet with people to discuss this, but at the moment the model we have is not working.

Deputies, please. This is chaotic behaviour. Will we please come back to some sort of order? A number of people will not be called simply because of this carry-on.

I wish to make the point that I did answer, and I was heckled again for answering.

I know you did.