Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Mr. O'Brien mentioned his procedure with scepticism, and I accept that. What he did do - he mentioned it just previously - was to realise that there were other people who could have been involved - criminal elements, journalists who may have been looking for a story, etc. There could have been any number of people who wanted the information. His scepticism did not prevent him from believing that the surveillance may have originated within the Garda Síochána and, if so, a member of An Garda Síochána may have committed an offence or behaved in a manner that justified disciplinary proceedings. That was the basis for his investigation, not that there was a security threat and that it could have been any other source. He made the specific decision, albeit perhaps sceptical, that it was members of the Garda alone who were the chief suspects.