Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I am on the record of the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality as saying that to provide absolute objectivity and enable people to have the confidence to come forward, not just from within the Garda Síochána but right across the sector, it is important there is an independent office to which people can go to have a safe place to raise these issues. However, that does not abdicate our responsibility. We have put in place internal structures such as appointing two protected disclosures managers and ensuring we have structures in place to investigate all matters. I am on record as having said since April 2014 that dissent is not disloyalty. That is relevant in relation to encouraging people to speak up, to have the confidence to come forward and to know that the issues they raise may not always be completely right but will be listened to, taken seriously and investigated, as was the case in this-----