The case of Ms Nora Wall, who had a conviction for rape quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal last July, was raised in the Dail yesterday by the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn.

Mr Quinn asked if the Taoiseach and the Government were aware of the "widespread public concern about the treatment of a citizen, Nora Wall".

When the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison, said it was not in order to refer to individual cases, Mr Quinn said he was talking about "a dramatic failure of the system".

Mr Ahern said the DPP was totally independent in his functions.