Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is reasonable for us to call for a full independent inquiry into this affair. The Garda has become the centre of this scandal and the burden of responsibility lies upon that organisation to ensure it is above reproach. It must acknowledge what types of surveillance gathering they are involved in and what technology it uses. It must clarify whether it ever employs private companies to carry out surveillance operations. Could surveillance of GSOC ever be legally justified - for example, if it was believed that members of GSOC were leaking information to journalists, as they have been accused of doing? Could the Official Secrets Acts be used to justify such an operation? Only a full independent inquiry will be able to resolve such questions.

It is clear that the Minister has attempted to deflect attention away from the core issues by peddling misinformation and half-truths. Why, in a properly functioning democracy, would the Minister with direct responsibility for policing be reluctant to initiate an investigation into illegal surveillance of a State body that has been established to hold the police force to account? It is also clear that the relationship between certain journalists and the Garda and, indeed, Members of the Government needs to be scrutinised. Today's cack-handed attempt by Paul Williams to discredit GSOC was the most obvious example of this. The Government's line is being spun by certain elements of the media in order to deflect attention from what is really important, and one wonders what their true agenda may be. As Deputy McDonald made clear earlier today, any investigation needs to be empowered to get to the heart of the bugging scandal. It is simply unacceptable that the Minister might be allowed to set the terms of reference for this inquiry.

The inquiry must investigate the Garda's handling of the well-known convicted drug trafficker Kieran Boylan, whose role as an alleged informant must be open to scrutiny because it is believed this relationship goes to the heart of the bugging scandal. The only true means of determining the facts of the matter is a thorough, transparent, independent inquiry. If the Government uses the powers available to it under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 it may well be able to get to the root of this matter. The credibility of this Government to lead into the future may depend on its ability to do so.

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