Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the Minister's point about the confidential recipient. What is his opinion of him now? The Minister said he was a man of integrity when he appointed him and now, rightly so in my opinion, he has relieved him of his post because of some of his comments. My other question relates to the Garda Síochána Inspectorate which was established to deal with the investigation of Garda procedures such as promotions. We have not heard much about the inspectorate in the time since it was set up. Some of the allegations fall into that category. Has the inspectorate been asked to examine whether the investigative processes of An Garda Síochána are sufficiently robust? Why will the Minister not state that he believes that both Sergeant Maurice McCabe and former Garda John Wilson are honourable men and that their intention from the start was to do good? Why will he not state that their intentions were honourable, that they wanted a justice system and the Garda Síochána to stand the test of any inquiry, that they wanted to make the system better and highlight wrongdoing in An Garda Síochána, not to the detriment of An Garda Síochána but to ensure that it was corrected? If they had been listened to, it would not have got to this point but the Minister has so far failed, to my knowledge, to state that both men were honourable men.

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