Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In March there was a discussion between the Chairman and the former Garda Commissioner about whether incompetence or deception was the root cause of these issues. The former Garda Commissioner concluded her appearance before the committee on 30 March with the following comment, "I will conclude by giving the committee an assurance, as I did at the end of my opening statement, that we will identify those who are responsible and accountable for this and we will hold them to account." How many disciplinary actions are taking place arising from the two reports and at what rank are the subjects of the proceedings?

It is stated on page 101 of the breath test report: "It is the responsibility of the regional commissioners and divisional officers to have each incident identified fully investigated from a disciplinary perspective if it meets the required threshold". Given the massive disparity and exaggeration of breath tests between the different divisions - we can compare the figures of 385% in Tipperary and 18% in Wexford - does Mr. Ó Cualáin believe it is appropriate for some of the divisional managers who may have been complicit in the falsification to decide who is now disciplined? Surely the matter would more properly be handled by Garda headquarters in referring it directly to an independent body such as the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. It may also be that Garda headquarters should have referred the action or inaction of the regional commissioners or divisional officers to GSOC. What does the acting Commissioner think?