Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think the public would be happier if they found out that GSOC was investigating these matters privately in what it considered the best way of doing so. That is obviously what GSOC thought at the time; that this was the best way to deal with the matter. There has been an immediate change in attitude and I am disappointed. I am supportive of GSOC and the Garda Síochána and am not here to take sides, as some people in this debate have done, unfortunately. Mr. O'Brien recognises, as do most people, the enormously valuable work done by An Garda Síochána. I am very keen that GSOC would not be subject to political pressure but that is what I have seen in the last few days. Let us take the Director of Public Prosecutions as an example to illustrate my point. If there was a major mess up in the most vile of rape cases, the DPP would never say "Sorry". The DPP never expresses regret. That might be ---