Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am told that I am too close to the Garda Commissioner as if the Minister for Justice and Equality should be at war with the Garda Commissioner. Can I say on this issue that my only interest is that we get at the truth. I tell the truth as I know it based on the information that I am given. My interest is ensuring that the Garda Síochána and the Garda Commissioner properly carry out their duties in accordance with statute and that GSOC properly carries out its very important public functions independently and is allowed and facilitated to do the job we have asked it to do, but I cannot make a pretence that I know of something that I do not know. The truth is, and it is corroborated by what Kieran FitzGerald said, that I know of no evidence, either prior to the commencement of the section 102 investigation or subsequent to it, to indicate Garda involvement in this matter. If there was Garda involvement in this matter, I would take it with the utmost seriousness.