Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach says that we have to get this right now, which acknowledges that his Government has not got it right up to this. That is just a fact of life. The Minister has performed abysmally in regard to this matter. There is the further matter that at a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts recently, the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, described the gardaí concerned as so-called whistleblowers and said their actions were "disgusting". Where does the Garda Inspectorate report, which vindicates, we believe, the claims of both Garda Sergeant McCabe and former Garda John Wilson, leave the Garda Commissioner? This report apparently vindicates the whistleblowers, yet the Commissioner believes their actions were "disgusting". That is a very serious matter.

Does the Taoiseach believe that the Garda Commissioner's position is tenable while he holds to the view that the actions of the gardaí concerned were disgusting, despite the fact that the Garda Inspectorate report, we believe, vindicates the claims made by both gardaí? Does the Taoiseach not agree that it is time now no longer to park matters for the GSOC report or any other report, review or opinion that will present? There is sufficient information and evidence to prompt an immediate response from the Minister. Will he come into the Dáil today and make a clear and unequivocal apology to the gardaí concerned? Will he likewise make an apology to Deputy Mick Wallace, whom he also slighted in this House?

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