Mr. Brian Purcell:

I have no pride - I can answer that question. I do not believe that the Department is not fit for purpose. We have acknowledged, and I am acknowledging now, that the structures that were in place for dealing with Garda whistleblowers were not fit for purpose. As part of the reforms that the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, is introducing, the extension of the remit of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, and the Protected Disclosures Bill will address that issue. I cannot see the logic in having a system in which someone goes to a confidential recipient with a problem, only for the confidential recipient to have to have it investigated. In other words, gardaí investigating gardaí. It is far from an ideal situation. It is not fit for purpose.

I do not accept the description, even if it was from the Minister, Deputy Varadkar. I did not hear what he said, but I saw the reports. I do not accept that the Department of Justice and Equality is not fit for purpose. I might briefly say why.