Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister stated he hoped the insights gained at the road safety conference last week would assist in identifying new appropriate action. I congratulate him - his luck is in. Were it not for that conference, and the remarks of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, who called the Minister for what he is, we would not be here and would not have heard the apology to the Garda whistleblowers. The Minister was dragged kicking and screaming into the Chamber this week. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport shamed him into making the speech he has just made. His first wish for the impact of that conference has come true. I hope his second wish for its impact on road safety will come equally true.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport deserves some credit. Once again, however, the Minister for Justice and Equality could not resist passing the ball to the Assistant Commissioner, Mr. O’Mahoney, saying it was his fault that he did not speak to the whistleblowers. This morning it was the fault of the Attorney General for not drawing attention to the tapes. It is always the fault of someone else, never of the Minister.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is in Farmleigh paying tribute to the Irish rugby team. The Minister for Justice and Equality should be there because his ability to pass a ball would give him a place on the team. The problem is those receiving the ball might not be best equipped to take the kind of balls the Minister passes.

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