Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The bigger picture in this debate is that issues have arisen and the Minister took appropriate and speedy action. As regards the most recent controversy, the relevant tapes are safe. The issues that have arisen are legacy issues which were not addressed previously. The personal and disproportionate attack on the Minister is an attempt to skew reality and diminishes the public view of how politics operate. The political objective of this attack is to bring down a Minister and destabilise and, ultimately, bring down the Government. It is, therefore, personal.

I regret that in all of this the former Garda Commissioner is no longer in his post. Opposition Deputies have the liberty of saying what they like because they do not carry the burden of responsibility of governing and protecting the public good. To be persuaded by the arguments they have made against the Minister would be akin to allowing the lunatics to take over the asylum. This is a hard-working, reforming and honest Minister.

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