Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Taoiseach that we need clarity but he has not been clear. There is very deep concern about reports that the GSOC office was targeted as part of a sophisticated surveillance operation allegedly using high-level technology. The Taoiseach's response to this yesterday was very disappointing, as was that of the Government to the whistleblower allegations. The important question people are asking about this scandal is whether the office of the GSOC was bugged and if so, by whom? There is no point in blaming the GSOC, as the Taoiseach did yesterday. That is not good enough. There is clearly a breakdown of trust between that office, the Garda Commissioner and the Minister. The reality is that the GSOC has been undermined since it was established and its work frustrated, particularly during the public interest investigation into the handling of informers arising from the Kieran Boylan affair. I also agree with the Taoiseach that citizens need to trust public agencies and to know that they are in a position to carry out their work without being compromised, particularly an agency with the onerous responsibility for Garda oversight. Was the office of the GSOC bugged? If so, who did it? The Taoiseach was not clear about that.

The GSOC has no oversight in respect of the Garda Commissioner. Given the breakdown in trust with the Minister, is it not clear that an independent inquiry would resolve these matters in an urgent way and that this would then deal with the issue of public confidence about which the Taoiseach expressed concern?

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