Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming in. On the issue of Garda overtime, I welcome the fact that the Garda has had several successes this year. Can the Minister explain the communications between the Department and senior management of An Garda Síochána that allowed such a circular to be distributed to chief superintendents? There is a clear contradiction between what the Minister has elaborated on today and the elaboration of the Taoiseach yesterday on the one hand and what was circulated to the chief superintendents on the other. Clearly the Department and the Minister were either not aware or did not approve that circular. What communications took place around overtime? How could such misinformation enter the public domain yesterday, when there appears to be overtime and a smooth process as the Minister has said today?

The episode gave the wrong message at the wrong time. There was concern across many communities in Dublin and beyond. Can the Minister explain the internal backdrop to such a misunderstanding and how it happened? It is important that such a circular is not distributed again. I hope it can be rectified internally with what the Minister is doing today. What happened yesterday was of concern to many people and gave concern to many gardaí who get overtime on a weekly basis.

I am not sure how it escalated to the degree it did without any explanation.