Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and the Minister. Will the Minister confirm what knowledge he has about the statements that were made by GSOC where an impression was given that the security sweep was ordered because of comments made by a third party and that the third party is in fact the Garda Commissioner, Mr. Martin Callinan? For clarification purposes, will the Minister confirm if there was any type of authorised surveillance, of any type, on the offices of GSOC at any time in the past? I am talking about authorised surveillance.

The Minister's, and the Government's, whole take on the situation seems to have been - especially at the beginning - to distract attention away from the alleged breach of security itself. Does he now agree that the strategy seems to have, to be blunt, blown up in his face and has led to a lack of confidence in the way that he handled the whole situation?