Mr. Martin Callinan:

I absolutely accept what the Chairman is saying. That is one element and one side of the story. I recognise a number of matters he has mentioned by way of example. One or two of them have been bottomed out. I will say no more about that.

It is clearly the case that on 14 December 2012, following legal advice, I presented an opportunity to these individuals - not alone did I present it but I directed them - that if they had any of that PULSE material in their possession, to hand it over, because they should not have had it in the first instance. None of us should. Second, I advised that they had an opportunity, without prejudice to the confidential reporting system - that is very important, and I have copies of the directions I gave to these people - to come forward with absolutely any complaint they had to the assistant commissioner. I would expect that any member of the Garda Síochána would know the channels of communication in the case of wrongdoing. I have already indicated to the committee that anybody who sees or hears about wrongdoing would be expected to take action, and that action could be on their own, through their superiors or through the confidential reporting mechanism.

That is a clear direction that was issued in June 2012 in the context of the last point the Chairman mentioned.