Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are here to consider the issue of value for money. My opinion on confidence in the police is on record. I am here, however, in a different capacity. I am here as a member of the committee to consider the issue of value for money. Matters arose on the last occasion on which clarification is certainly needed. The Garda Commissioner needs to be given an opportunity to come here. That is the way we should deal with the matter. If we go down the route of saying “misled” and “dishonest”, we are making findings.

We may well want to do it but it is not our role. Our role is to look at value for money and examine what is before us.

On the last occasion, Mr. Barrett produced a document that we just got this week. We need to look at it and see the context of it. It was referred to as "minutes" but it is his personal recording. I advise caution and I say this as somebody on the record questioning the police and having a certain opinion. I am hearing a different context. We should put this down for a meeting as quickly as possible and it should not wait until July.