Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With regard to No. 3, my party supports the appointment of Rónán Ó Domhnaill as An Coimisinéir Teanga. I hope that the Government will show the new Coimisinéir Teanga, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, a lot more respect than it showed the previous one, Seán Ó Cuirreáin. Perhaps the Government will listen to the thousands of people who marched in Dublin last week to celebrate Lá Mór na Gaeilge. Today's debate will be interesting. I hope that the Government fully commits itself to the protection and improvement of the Irish language and allowing State services to be accessed through Irish.

Does the Deputy Leader support or have full confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality? Does the Minister have the confidence of her colleagues in Government but particularly the Labour Party? As junior coalition partner, her party has a role to play in the matter. On a daily basis over the past two weeks we have witnessed the Minister's attempts to rubbish whistleblowers and attack the man but not deal with the issue. Yesterday my party leader gave details to the Taoiseach about allegations made by the whistleblower, Garda McCabe, who needs to be commended. Let us recall, a short two weeks ago, the evidence that the Garda Commissioner gave to the Committee of Public Accounts and the Minister, Deputy Shatter, in which they tried to rubbish the whistleblower. Very serious allegations were made. Even if there is a scintilla of truth to them they deserve to be looked at and not swept aside. The Government has tried to drape a veil of secrecy over the issue.

The same applies to the Government's handling of the GSOC. I am glad that there is now some type of a review although the Minister said that we did not need an independent review. Let us remember what type of review we are getting. It is an independent desktop review and is not an inquiry. Two very serious issues have arisen. The Seanad led the way because we tabled a motion of no confidence in the Minister nearly 18 months ago and I am inclined to do the same again. However, we need to get to the truth of these matters, which are very serious. The Minister has acted as if he owned the Department, the justice system and the Garda; he does not. He is a servant of the people of the State and should act accordingly. He should show due respect to the people who put their necks on the line to publicise the truth of these matters but he has not done so.

I ask for a debate to be arranged, in due course, on the way the Minister has handled these matters. I specifically want to know whether he has the confidence and support of the Deputy Leader.

On a lighter note, I congratulate the Irish cricket team on its magnificent victory yesterday over the West Indies in Jamaica.