Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Of course, when the Government is under pressure it seeks to rely on the age-old defence of playing the man rather than the ball. It does not wash on this occasion.

I condemn the attack on the Minister's private residence and I hope the people concerned are caught. However, every Deputy in this Chamber has received hate mail, so it is not relevant to this debate. The Taoiseach decided to insert it this morning.

Almost a year ago we tabled a motion of no confidence in the Minister. In the usual fashion the Minister came into the Chamber and described the opposition Deputies who spoke as character assassins. What about the whistleblowers and the members of GSOC? What about the confidential recipient, the Garda Commissioner and the two Independent Deputies behind me? Those were attempted character assassinations by the Minister and the Government and by the silence of the Deputies opposite. They are the character assassins. It is a case of everybody else except them.

Every opportunity has been afforded to the Government tonight and last night to address the issue of the departure of the former Garda Commissioner, but it has steadfastly refused to deal with his sacking. It is worthwhile to remind the Irish public of his career. He joined the force in 1973 and rose to the ranks of sergeant, inspector, superintendent, chief superintendent, assistant commissioner, deputy commissioner and Garda Commissioner. The Government extended his term as Garda Commissioner. He led the fight against organised crime, subversives and the IRA. The Government reached for him at every opportunity as a positive example. However, none of the government speakers in his or her contribution last night or tonight addressed why he was sacked and why he had to go prematurely. Shame on them. He was an outstanding public servant for 41 years and the Government extended his term, but none of the government speakers could address the elephant in the room. In fairness, Deputy Michelle Mulherin was the only speaker who could bring herself to do it. Yes, he made a mistake when he used the remark "disgusting", but his loyalty to the Minister and to the Government in that regard cost him his job. That is the point.

This morning, during Leaders' Questions, the Taoiseach continued to say he had grave concerns about the telephone recording. They may be grave in respect of the Bailey case, but there has not been a queue outside the High Court petitioning for miscarriages of justice. The rest of the graveness has not been explained; the Taoiseach has not taken the opportunity to explain it. It is quite clear that the Taoiseach betrayed the former Garda Commissioner and that he was involved in shafting him, but he kept the Minister, Deputy Shatter, out of the loop.

The Government decided that a body had to be thrown under the bus, as it were, so they grabbed the Garda Commissioner and threw him under the bus. People are asking who will be next, because there will be someone next if we go by the pattern of events. The Taoiseach appointed the Minister and he is responsible for him, yet he chose not to involve the Minister in any of the major discussions when we follow through on the timeline of events. Is that a vote of confidence? I think it is not by his actions.

I do not know where the lads in the Labour Party and Fine Gael back benches stand.

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