Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 16 May 2013
Public Accounts Committee
2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 26: Collection of Motor Taxation
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána
12:50 pm
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I understand why Mr. Callinan, as Garda Commissioner, would say that, but he is missing the fundamental point, namely, that although the matter was raised by the book and in an entirely appropriate manner within the structures of An Garda Síochána in March, nothing happened according to the two gardaí. There was no response. That is what triggered the public disclosure of the concern and the material to which the Commissioner referred. That raises many questions, not least about the efficiency or effectiveness or the Garda system of whistleblowing or confidential disclosure. How does the Commissioner account for the delay? A serious allegation had been made through the appropriate procedural channels, yet there was no response or reaction. I suppose the officers concerned felt they had no other option if they wished to have the matter addressed but to bring it into the public domain through whatever channel they chose.