Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the centre of the many current controversies are a group of victims. I note the language used by some Deputies from the Technical Group, all of whom are notable by their absence. I welcome the presence of some Fianna Fáil Party Deputies as I was beginning to believe they would not return to the Chamber. It is also noteworthy also that there are no Sinn Féin Deputies present.

If the victims at the centre of this controversy are following this debate at home, they must be wondering why the cases of their loved ones have been brought into a political squabble and an attempt to smear the Minister for Justice and Equality, which is clearly the objective of many of the Deputies opposite. This morning, when the Minister outlined a catalogue of actions he had taken, including letters he had written and correspondence with the Secretary General of the Department and others, Deputies on the Fianna Fáil benches were crestfallen. The leader of the Opposition became tetchy when he delivered his script because his hopes of undermining the Minister and walking out of the Chamber with his head fell asunder.

The debate was cynically politicised just a few minutes ago when another Member known for grand-standing, Deputy Ross, walked in and called for the resignation of the Garda Commissioner before walking out again. He regurgitated the same speech he has made on multiple occasions in the past three years. I have no doubt I will read it again on the pages of the Sunday Independent.

Issues relating to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission are being investigated by Mr. Justice Cooke and a senior counsel has been appointed to examine issues related to whistleblowers. This does not satisfy some Deputies because their political motivation, regrettably, is to smear the Minister.

We hear about the need for a separation of powers and calls on the Minister not to interfere in the operations of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and Garda Síochána. This morning, however, the leader of the Technical Group, Deputy Joan Collins, lacerated the Taoiseach on the basis that the Minister was not interfering in the operations of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. Having argued that the Minister should not have any contact with the commission, the Deputy called on the Minister essentially to take over the commission and tell it what to do and how to do it in order that she and Deputies Clare Daly and Mick Wallace would be satisfied. The Deputies want to have their cake and eat it and then take it to a stall on Grafton Street to try to sell it. They want to do everything and nothing, which is regrettable.

Deputy Lucinda Creighton was doing fine when she made two assertions about the leaders of the Opposition parties. She then stated, however, that two thirds of Deputies have taken a cavalier attitude to this issue.

I do not know where Deputy Creighton has been but this is the fourth or fifth occasion on which I have spoken in the House on this issue. I am also a member of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions, at a meeting of which I questioned the Minister, Deputy Shatter, on his actions in relation to this matter, as have my colleagues in Fine Gael and the Labour Party. If Deputy Creighton chooses not to accept or take on board what we as Government backbenchers are doing, that is her own problem. The Deputy made clear her own position when she left Fine Gael. For her to come in here and try to smear Fine Gael backbenchers just because she might have an issue with the-----

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