Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the basis of the evidence presented to the Minister, does he consider it is fair to say that the action of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was disproportionate? I am being pushed to put questions to the Minister. Clearly in December the commission had closed the book on this. Only for what appeared in the Sunday newspaper - it may have happened at another time - this would not have come into the public domain. At any time did the members of the commission put it to the Minister that they needed extra resources or that they considered taking a second opinion from another surveillance company? Had they not put the matter to rest? When the representative of the commission came before this committee he clearly seemed perturbed and concerned that surveillance was going on. Yet all that was offered was the evidence we have discussed and the evidence which he gave at the committee.

This is all against the backdrop of mutual mistrust or suspicion between the Garda Commissioner and the ombudsman commission. In respect of the review or inquiry that the Minister is setting up, which will have a retired judge at its head, would it be possible-----