Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

First, on the O'Higgins commission, which was the Deputy's first question, at all times my interactions with my legal advisers were based on legal advice and as he is aware, lawyer-client privilege pertains to every citizen of the State, including the Garda Commissioner. As such, I cannot comment on any interactions between me and my legal advice. That is my legal advice.

Second, with regard to sitting alongside my predecessor, the former Commissioner, Martin Callinan, a lot of play has been made of that issue. Again, that was an interaction in a Dáil committee. I am on record as saying the choice of words was unfortunate. What I wrote to the thenCommissioner Callinan was to withdraw those remarks, because I do not believe they were said in the way that they came across.