The Dalton report on the Bord na gCon controversy is to come before the Cabinet next Tuesday, Tánaiste Mary Harney revealed.
She also said that the Government hoped to deal with the Defamation Bill within the next fortnight.
Ms Harney said that due to the principle of natural justice, any report drawing adverse conclusions regarding individuals who could be identified, even if not named, must be issued to them to allow them to respond.
"That is the opinion of the Attorney General and has been the relevant legal advice for many years." She was responding to Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, who claimed it appeared that the Government had deliberately contrived not to publish reports before the Dáil went into recess next week. This was to avoid a debate in the House, he claimed.
He said that the shooting of John Carthy had taken place in 2000, the Barr tribunal hearings in 2004 and still the report had not been published.
"It was due to go to the printers, according to the tribunal, five weeks ago. In any event, it is not credible in 2006 that a delay with the printer is the reason the report has not been laid before the House."
Mr Rabbitte said the O'Sullivan report into the statutory rape affair, and what went wrong in the Office of the Attorney General, was promised within weeks, but, again, the Government was contriving to publish it as soon as the House rose.
"There will be no opportunity to debate it, although we now know that a note was sent for the attention of the Attorney General. Whether he ever set eyes upon it, we do no know."
Ms Harney said that the Barr report was expected today and it was intended to publish it as quickly as possible.
However, Ms Harney came into the chamber later to say that the report was not expected until the middle of July. "I want to apologise to the House and to the Carthy family for any upset caused."
"I do not know when the O'Sullivan report is expected, but it will be in a matter of weeks."
She said that she did not know the position of the Morris tribunal. There were several tribunals ongoing in the State, and much as they would wish to see them concluded more quickly, the process sometimes took longer than anticipated.
"However, that is a matter for the tribunal and not something the Government or Oireachtas can influence."
