Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I asked the Tánaiste a series of very direct questions, which she did not answer. We are supposed to be in a new political dispensation. The questions were very straightforward.

Has the Tánaiste spoken to the Commissioner about the allegation that the latter instructed her legal team to the effect that Maurice McCabe had acted maliciously? I asked the Tánaiste that question and I am going to ask her again. I also asked her whether two officers had made the same allegation. She has not answered these questions at all.

I happen to believe that the Tánaiste is a good Minister, but I will remind her of what happened to Alan Shatter. He was appointed as Minister for Justice and Equality and she was appointed following his resignation. He was embroiled in a series of scandals when the two Garda whistleblowers, John Wilson and Maurice McCabe, raised concerns regarding practices within the upper echelons of An Garda Síochána. It is now a matter of fact that they were smeared and bullied. Teachtaí anseo were also smeared and measured, rational propositions from Sinn Féin and others were ridiculed by the Government, including An Taoiseach. Then, one day, the Attorney General told the Taoiseach about the taping of telephone calls into and out of Garda stations. There was no way that the Taoiseach would fob this issue off any longer. After telling us for months that there was nothing to see and we should move on, he acted in an entirely unorthodox and unacceptable way. I said this at the time.

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