Howlin: 'Every concern' will be covered by garda enquiry
The Public Expenditure Minister said the terms of reference for the Garda Tapes inquiry will be published today - and will address all of the public's concerns.
Brendan Howlin said that will include recordings from the service, and Supreme Court Justice Nial Fennelly will be given the flexibility to include any new information that comes to light.
"The terms of reference will be comprehensive, will be published, hopefully, in the next few hours once agreed by Government," Howlin said.
"Every concern that citizens might have will be addressed, and there will be a degree of flexibility offered … to ensure that a comprehensive and thorough examination is done – speedily."
Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, Michael Clifford, said the Fennelly Inquiry will examine a number of issues relating to taping of calls at Garda stations.
"[They'll examine] the overall issue of the widespread taping of the phone conversations … why that came about, on whose authority it was done, how many people, for instance, knew … what happened the tapes … and, crucially, I'd suggest, whether these tapes were listened to either on a routine basis or in exceptional circumstances."
