Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Minister has responsibility for the Garda Síochána. He has just said an interim report was given to him some months ago. This event happened on 31 July. How long does it take for the Garda Síochána to complete its report? Is the Minister satisfied a nolle prosequi was entered in the circumstances described? Is he satisfied that should have happened?

With regard to the person concerned, the information is that he is not, after all, a Garda informant. Therefore, who is running, sheltering and protecting him? Are the individual gardaí sheltering him acting on their own accord? Do they think they are acting in the public interest or are they acting for corrupt purpose? After all we have seen and after the Minister's admission that a large component of the gangland feuding that is wrecking some of our communities is driven by the drugs trafficking trade, I would have thought that as Minister he would want to hear from the Garda Síochána, after ten months, what the hell was going on. I would think he would want to hear why a convicted drugs dealer could get a licence to resume importing death into this country, if that is his disposition, and to do that with impunity.

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