merrion street

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D., has welcomed the report by the Smithwick Tribunal to the Clerk of the Dail yesterday, in line with motions passed by the Oireachtas in early June.

The Minister noted that oral hearings commenced in June and that the Tribunal reports 'good progress' in its work.

The Minister said

"It would be a pity if issues which arose some time ago in discharging my responsibility to the tax payer and the public interest were to be used by anyone now to detract from the work of the Tribunal.

I have always acknowledged the importance of the Tribunal being able to conclude its important work fully and expeditiously. In discharging that task it continues to have my unswerving support and that of the Government."