Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I wish to assure the committee that following receipt of the report in the media, officials in my office immediately contacted the Office of the Garda Commissioner. There appears to have been some form of misunderstanding. I wish to assure members that there will be funding available for Garda overtime for the December period. Obviously, I do not allocate overtime for gardaí, no more than I suggest to gardaí where actual policing endeavours might be undertaken but I am satisfied, following discussions at the highest level yesterday, that any misunderstanding or misinterpretation has been cleared up and that there will be a provision of overtime for gardaí over the festive period in December.