Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The Tánaiste was informed mid-afternoon. Did the Minister speak to the Tánaiste before coming into the House this morning? There is a reasonable expectation that these questions would be asked, because I find it very surprising that the Tánaiste was blindsided on this issue. Can the Minister confirm when the Tánaiste was told that the report had arrived? Was he made aware on the previous evening, Tuesday evening, that the report had arrived? Was the Tánaiste told then that the Guerin report had arrived and that its content was very grave? Obviously, he was not, nor was he told yesterday morning, even though the Attorney General was told at 6 a.m. He willingly expressed total confidence in the Minister at 2 o'clock even though we now know that the then Minister, Deputy Shatter, intended to resign, and it is clear the Taoiseach knew that. I find it extraordinary that the Taoiseach did not bring the Tánaiste into his confidence earlier with regard to the Guerin report and its potential implications for the status of the Minister, and also with regard to the fact that a senior Minister of the Government in the Department of Justice and Equality was about to resign. Does the Minister not find that somewhat extraordinary?

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