Mr. Martin Callinan:

-----and I am trying to assist, I think in the first instance it goes without saying I would have to take legal advice but my personal view is that members of An Garda Síochána, who are serving or retired, should not be coming in to this fora and using this platform to discuss matters of such importance, particularly in the context of criminal and serious allegations that are being made against their colleagues. I think it would certainly have an adverse effect on the maintenance of discipline and good order in An Garda Síochána, and that would be my primary concern - not, in any way, shape or form, to interfere with the good work that this committee does, absolutely not. That is why I am here, after all - to answer any question at any time in regard to revenue streams and any other matters that come to your notice that you wish to put to me.

It is important that if I, as Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, am performing a statutory function, I should not be usurped by subordinates in terms of how I do my business. I know I am repeating myself, but there is very clear avenues for people to go down - in terms of wrongdoing - and I would not for one moment want any particular member of this committee or any member of the public to be of the impression that I am trying to hide from wrongdoing. My view is that if any member of the Garda Síochána at any rank, anywhere, anytime sees wrongdoing, there is an expectation and they have a statutory obligation to act on that wrongdoing. How does one do that? Every garda knows that one reports through one's authorities or one goes through the confidential recipient if matters are so sensitive that one feels one cannot go any other route. I am totally in support of the confidential reporting mechanism. I have it in place. It is working well within An Garda Síochána and anything I get from the confidential recipient, I will act on immediately and report back on. Those opportunities have been presented to these two people in the past, in December 2012. They choose not to use that vehicle.