Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Following on from that, I suggest that we write to the acting commissioner, tell him we want him to come to the committee at the earliest opportunity, next week if possible, bringing with him an account of the methodology applied in making this decision, and set out that we want to have an exchange with him on the matter. This is a patent exercise in evasion which is very disappointing after everything that transpired. He made a very clear commitment to me and the committee that there was no problem and went so far as to say, when I asked him, that it would be reasonable to expect it in a day or two. What happened between then and now? It is not good enough for him as acting commissioner to imagine he is going to play a game of cat and mouse with us. We must make it very clear to him, as the Accounting Officer with a direct line of accountability to this committee, that this is not on. Surely he should have realised that at this stage given everything that has happened. Not alone do I want a letter written to the acting commissioner, I want him to present himself here to make an account of himself, provide us with a rationale and set out clearly the analysis, data and methodology by which decisions were taken to reopen some Garda stations while leaving others closed, in particular the Stepaside Garda station. As a committee, we are entitled to that information.