John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is pretty straightforward. We can just leave it at that. I will put one or two questions to the Commissioner. I will not delay because we have had a long session.

I made a public statement about whistleblowers and how they are treated and so on. I, therefore, feel obliged to address it in this forum before we end the meeting. Both whistleblowers have approximately 30 years experience but my interpretation of their side of the story is they came across wrongdoing as they saw it and they decided they were going to take proof for evidence from the PULSE system. They then used the mechanisms open to them relating to the confidential recipient and so on and they put their case. For some reason or reasons, they lost confidence in the system of reporting and then they obviously decided to make the information available publicly to Oireachtas Members and they quoted various Acts for doing that. Does that not explain, in the context of the volume of information that is now in the public domain, the lack of confidence they had in the system and their desire because of their commitment to the Garda and their belief in the uniform they wore, that when the saw this, they wanted to report it and they wanted action taken? They were not convinced by action that was taken.

Mr. O’Mahoney said he did not speak to either individual and I understand the Commissioner issued a directive. Did the Commissioner and Mr. O'Mahoney not speak to each other? Is there not room to discuss with a serving officer the issues he raised? Where stands that type of approach? Would Mr. Callinan, as the boss, not contact the whistleblower and invite him into his office for a chat? I ask this in the context of what would happen in any normal business.