Tribunal inquiry and housing points
The Leader thanked contributors, insisted the tribunal must be allowed to do its work, and responded to objections about comments on the McCabe matter. He then turned to housing, saying the first-time buyers grant needs time, defending the Government’s housing record, and noting that rent pressure zones and the Rebuilding Ireland plan are intended to address the crisis.
I thank the 17 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business.
Senators Ardagh, McDowell, Craughwell, Coffey, Conway-Walsh and Gavan raised the matter of a public inquiry. It is important we allow the tribunal to do its work first of all.
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Fairly and without people feeling they are going to be bullied if they testify. That is the problem.
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The bullying has gone one way so far.
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If I can reply without being heckled or bullied either, that would be nice.
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It is important to recognise a couple of things. A tribunal is being set up which is public, chaired by an eminent judge, and I have absolute confidence that he will do the job required of him. We are Members of the Upper House and our language is important. By extension of that, as I say every day of the week in this House, we cannot be judge and jury or attempt to influence or be seen to influence.
We cannot attempt to influence or be seen to influence. I am not saying the Senators are, in case they think I am. I think it is important that the judge is allowed to carry out his duties. If he makes a finding against people, that will be the result. All of us, I hope, have one common aim, namely, that the McCabe family get justice and are treated fairly and that we find out the truth in this inquiry. The tribunal is open to everybody. We cannot act as the tribunal.
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We have the terms of reference before us today. There are no findings against anybody yet. There are allegations in all shapes and forms. It is the job of the tribunal to establish the truth. I have every confidence it will.
We are presumed innocent until otherwise proven guilty. We have a duty as Members of the House to ensure that the tribunal gets the support it needs. I think Senator Paul Gavan misquoted Deputy Martin Heydon on "Morning Ireland" and I would ask the Senator to go back and listen to the programme again.