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

I asked the Tánaiste yesterday whether she had spoken to the Commissioner or not, and she did not give a clear reply. I think Deputy Adams asked the same question. Can she confirm whether she actually had a meeting with the Garda Commissioner in regard to this entire issue, with a view to bringing about a mechanism to resolve it in a transparent manner? Has she had such a meeting or will she indicate to the House that she intends to have such a meeting?

Up to now it has been said that a section of the Act precluded by law any discussion on legal instructions and legal submissions. That appeared to change yesterday in so far as the Tánaiste identified it, not so much as a question of law, but as a question of legal privilege and the waiving of same. That clarity needs to be made absolute. It is my view that if it is an issue of the waiving of legal privilege, that is an issue or mechanism that may allow for some way to resolve this fully and wholly. I did it myself as a Minister in one case where allegations were flying around in regard to the haemophiliac tribunal. Much to the chagrin of many people, I waived legal privilege on that occasion to show there was no conspiracy on behalf of anybody to do anything.

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