John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I express my full support and total confidence in the Taoiseach on the issue of the Fennelly commission report and his actions during the period in question. While the report clearly outlines the various breakdowns in communications and so on, the bottom line is that it makes clear that neither the Taoiseach nor anyone else sacked the Garda Commissioner and that the Commissioner had other options available to him.

I was present during Leaders' Questions on numerous occasions during that period and I remember Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and Independent Deputies jumping up and down looking for a commission of inquiry to examine the relevant events. They got an inquiry but are not happy with its findings. In other words, it produced the wrong answer. I ask them to take a leaf out of the book of the Kerry football team which, after being beaten fairly and squarely by Dublin in the all-Ireland final, accepted the result and moved on.

I have known the Taoiseach for the past 40 years. During that time, I have had many dealings with him, including a few rows. I will say, however, that he is a man of the highest integrity and honesty and a person who does what he says he will do. It is as simple as that and history will judge his legacy accordingly.

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