Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I have previously informed the House that I received an interim report from the Garda Commissioner concerning certain inquiries being carried out by an assistant commissioner into events related to a particular case involving a convicted drug dealer. I am informed by the Commissioner that those inquiries are still ongoing and I await a full report from the Commissioner as soon as those inquiries have been completed.

The House will be aware that when this matter first came to light I agreed to a request from the Garda Commissioner that the interim report which he had provided to me should be forwarded to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The ombudsman commission has indicated that it is conducting a public interest inquiry relating to the case. The ombudsman commission is well placed to look into all aspects of this case and to establish the full facts. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there is ongoing liaison between the Garda Síochána and the ombudsman commission on its inquiry.

Deputies will be well aware that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is an independent authority established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The independence of the ombudsman commission is a cornerstone of its operations and an important guarantee of its integrity. I am sure no Member of this House would suggest that I should interfere in this, or any, investigation being carried out by the ombudsman commission. Accordingly, I propose to await the report of its investigation into the matter.

In the circumstances, therefore, I believe it would not be appropriate for me to make further comment about the case pending the outcome of the ombudsman commission's work. It goes without saying that if any action on my part is required as a result of the ombudsman commission's investigations then I will take it.

The House will be well aware that there has been considerable media publicity in recent days concerning the issue of a road haulage operator's licence to the person referred to in the Deputy's question. That issue is the subject of a separate review by the Minister for Transport. I hope the House will appreciate, therefore, that I am somewhat constrained in what I can say about the matter and accept that we must await the establishment of the facts in this case, in particular by the ombudsman commission. The ombudsman commission has confirmed to us that it has included the issue of the granting of the licence to this person as part of its remit.

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