Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In my initial question I wish to focus on the confidential recipient, Mr. Oliver Connolly. In the transcript of the conversation which took place between him and Sergeant Maurice McCabe, he stated:

Shatter would have read your report in detail, I know he did, he communicated with me and he will have read all of your exhibits ... the only thing I would have redacted was your name. Alan studied everything in fact I know he did.

Mr. Connolly also stated:

I believe you and I think the Commissioner has a case to answer. I think you have the evidence they destroyed you, a man has only got his reputation. You were just standing up for what is right if you ask me.

The Minister did not really expand on the reasons that he relieved Mr. Connolly of his duties. Will the Minister indicate whether he had discussions with Mr. Connolly in respect of the dossier he forwarded to him on behalf of Sergeant Maurice McCabe? Will the Minister also indicate if the confidential recipient conveyed to him that he believed the import of what the whistleblower was saying to the effect that there was a case to answer? Will he confirm that the confidential recipient communicated with him on the matter? Comments have been made to the effect that the confidential recipient seems to have spoken to more than one whistleblower and informed them about his proximity to the Minister. I am not casting any aspersions with regard to who made those comments. However, they were uttered. Does the Minister accept, on reflection, that perhaps it was a mistake to appoint to the very sensitive position of confidential recipient for whistleblowers someone who was a friend and who had donated to his campaign?

On the inquiry into penalty points, does the Minister accept that no one from the O'Mahony investigation team contacted Sergeant Maurice McCabe to speak with him or to seek his input or co-operation? Does he also accept that the Road Safety Authority highlighted the fact that not interviewing the whistleblowers was the major failing of the O'Mahony inquiry?

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