Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I am not in any way unhappy with what I said and I will not withdraw anything I said because there are people whose careers have been blighted as a result of the base allegations that were made. I welcome the fact that Deputy Howlin regretted what happened, particularly to Assistant Commissioner Carty, who has not been able to defend himself in regard to this, and to Tony Hickey, who was brought into this. I regret that other people who were involved in this were not able to come in to give their views.

I have been accused of being in denial. I am not in denial. Deputies should read my contribution. As was acknowledged, I was a member of a Government which made immense changes to the way in which the Garda is overseen.

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