Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be as brief as possible. I have five questions, which I will ask while fully recognising the independence, importance and integrity of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, which has a crucial oversight role in terms of public service and security. The first point concerns the specific allegations, as made in the newspaper. The second concerns the role of the three-person commission. The third concerns the security status as of now, the fourth is on the anomalies and the fifth is on the Minister’s meeting. I will ask two questions first and then the remaining three. We will get through them very quickly that way.

On the specific allegations in the newspaper, the article states a speakerphone upstairs was bugged and that a test of a line confirmed the phone was being used to eavesdrop. Could the commissioner comment on these specific allegations, having regard to his statement to the committee that while he regarded activity as being suspicious, it did not meet the threshold of an offence? Perhaps he will explain to the committee what threshold he applies in terms of reporting or otherwise.