Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These are very significant powers in respect of investigation. I must consider every investigation very carefully in terms of whether it is the right thing to do. I had to consider the commission of investigation and the context and I had to get the advice of the Attorney General as to whether she considered it appropriate given the various issues involved. The information relating to the Garda Commissioner was more general. She had given me a detailed request and I felt it was in the public interest and went ahead.

It was a number of weeks but there were various pieces of work that needed to be done before I requested GSOC to do this investigation and it is now in a position to do that independent investigation.

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