Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

That is correct.

Did the Taoiseach put pressure on the former Garda Commissioner to resign? He claims he did not and that the Fennelly report vindicates him, but it does nothing of the sort. The Fennelly report states that "The Taoiseach has assured the Commission in evidence that he had no intention of putting any kind of pressure, direct or indirect on the Commissioner and that he was genuinely very surprised when he learned that the Commissioner had decided to retire." The report goes on to list the evidence that makes these claims impossible to accept. It states: "Mr Purcell was... instructed to tell the Commissioner that... the Taoiseach would be proposing the appointment of a Commission of Investigation and that there was a possibility that he, the Taoiseach, would be in a position where he might not be able to express continued confidence in the Commissioner." No pressure.

The report states that Deputy Shatter, in his written statement to the commission, said that the Taoiseach was clearly of the view that the Garda Commissioner should resign or retire. Again, no pressure. Deputy Shatter is quoted as viewing the nocturnal visit has having "the intent of a message going to the Commissioner that indicated very clearly to him that his position was in great difficulty or that he should consider his position". No pressure. The report states that the Taoiseach and the Attorney General gave evidence on the issue of no confidence and that it was not one of the concerns to be conveyed to Mr. Purcell, but Mr. Purcell, Mr. Fraser and Deputy Shatter, on the other hand, "were in no doubt that it was part of the message to be conveyed to the Garda Commissioner". Again, no pressure. The report states: "It was decided at the meeting that, for reasons that are not clear to the Commission, simply telephoning the Garda Commissioner was not sufficient but that the message should be conveyed by Mr Purcell in person." No pressure.

The report states:

Mr Purcell was thus instructed by the Taoiseach to visit the Garda Commissioner. He was to visit his home, something which neither he nor, so far as he was aware, any of his predecessors had ever done before.

No pressure.

Based on the evidence, clearly, the Fennelly report shows evidence that it is impossible to conclude that the Taoiseach had no intention of putting pressure on the Garda Commissioner, and 88% of the people do not believe it to be the case. For this reason, the motion of confidence should be voted against.

See this speech in context