Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

For more than two years we were confronted with seemingly endless scandals of Garda malpractice. For a year and a half we heard total Government denials. Then a few heads rolled and we were given promises of reform and loads of reports. The Garda Síochána Inspectorate report insisted that a complete radical cultural change was required but the Government has decided to appoint an insider. This insider sat on the shoulder of Martin Callinan when he appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts to answer questions and at which he described the whistleblowers as "disgusting". She was doing the whispering in his ear, as his right-hand woman.

Six months ago, a whistleblower from Athlone, Nicky Keogh, was mentioned in this House. He presented indisputable evidence of Garda involvement in serious criminal activity related to drugs. Six months on, there has been no information forthcoming. Meanwhile, the garda who made the complaint has been subjected to constant weekly harassment by senior management in Mullingar, manufacturing complaints against him, monitoring everything he does and making constant demands for his source of intelligence. This has all been on her watch. The blue wall of silence has not gone away.

The Taoiseach has done a very good job of taking the heat out of the Garda issue by getting rid of the Garda Commissioner, getting rid of Shatter and getting rid of the Secretary General.

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