The Barr report into the Garda shooting of John Carthy in Longford six years ago, will not now be published before the Dáil goes into summer recess, Tánaiste Mary Harney confirmed.
Ms Harney told Labour leader Pat Rabbitte that the "intention is to publish it during July and to have a debate in the house as soon as possible".
On Wednesday, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the report was ready for printing and he had no difficulty with it being published and discussed before the Dáil adjourned for the summer. The Minister for Justice's office had said the report was finished and ready for printing.
However, Ms Harney yesterday stated: "It will not be published before the Dáil goes into recess." It is expected to adjourn in the first week of July.
Mr Carthy was shot dead by the Garda Emergency Response Unit in Abbeylara, Co Longford, in 2000 and the Barr tribunal was set up in 2003 to investigate the circumstances of the death.
Mr Rabbitte said yesterday that "this shooting happened in 2000 and Mr Justice Barr concluded his inquiry in 2004." He asked how it was that "reports will be churned out after the House goes into recess".
He claimed that the same thing was happening with the Dalton report into Bord na gCon, the greyhound board. "Every journalist in the country has a version of the Dalton report but it has still not been made available to members of this House weeks later."
He added that the Barr report was a matter of fundamental public interest. "It is not right that the Government should deliberately contrive to publish it when the House is in recess."
