Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have two points to make. I have had to take the decision to excuse the representatives of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, Mr. Mark Toland and his colleagues. They understood that we have overextended our engagement here this morning. We will meet them in a stand-alone engagement to discuss the very important matters discussed today. Today's engagement with the representatives of the Policing Authority is clearly of huge importance and interest to members. That said, I do not want people to abuse that fact, because we are going to have a little more time today. I hope that the members of the committee are in agreement with that decision. We will write to Mr. Toland, the Chief Inspector, to convey our apologies for the inconvenience they were subjected to this morning.

Before inviting Deputy O'Callaghan to speak I wanted to say that while answering Deputy Clare Daly's question Ms Feehily indicated that perhaps the one thing she might have done would have been to indicate that both Ms West and Ms Galligan would be part of the meeting. I want to share with her that this committee said quite specifically in its request to the acting Commissioner that Ms West and Ms Galligan would be part of the delegation that would present, and they were not. This committee, quite rightly in my view, provided an opportunity for the two serving members of the analysis unit to come before us. We would be no better informed than what An Garda Síochána presented here on the day it attended unless we had taken the decision to accommodate both Ms West and Ms Galligan.

There are lessons for everybody in that because the Policing Authority would be no further on either. That simply would not be enough. I call Deputy O'Callaghan.