Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will move away from that. I want Ms McPhillips to note my disagreement with the contention that it involves the former Tánaiste influencing a case or witness. Certainly, it would not be permitted if there was a witness who was about to give evidence and the former Tánaiste said that she did not want that witness to give evidence. However, it is not the case that the former Tánaiste could not communicate with the Garda Commissioner and state that the issue about the criminal complaint against Sergeant McCabe was dismissed and, consequently, that she was unhappy with the legal strategy. I see no basis why the former Tánaiste could not have done that. Why was she only told of emails on 16 November?