Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The section provides first that the Commissioner must account fully to the Government and the Minister through the Secretary General for any aspect of her functions and that her duty in that regard "includes the duty to provide, on request by the Secretary General, any document in the power or control of the Garda Síochána, including material in the form of Garda records, statements made by members of the Garda Síochána and by other persons and reports."

A critical issue in all of these proceedings is the fact that, unbelievably, the Commissioner is hiding behind privilege as regards revealing Ken Ruane's letter on 24 July. Why a Commissioner would want to hide behind privilege is beyond most of us because this is in the public interest. Under section 40, the Minister has the power to request that and any other documentation and make it public. Mr. Waters has been notified of this in writing. Is the Department going to request this letter so that we can all see its contents, for the conclusions of this committee?