Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The worst mess up in the office of the DPP - I cannot think of any off hand - or a decision not to prosecute is never apologised for. The DPP makes decisions independently. The DPP never explains or apologises because the office cannot do so. It is not that an explanation or apology is not desirable or that we would not like to find out the reasons for the DPP's decisions but under our constitutional arrangements, offices such as that of the DPP must be independent of any pressure.

Has the commission become less independent of political and media pressure in the past week?