Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Here we go again - another week and another controversy surrounding the Garda Commissioner and the treatment of Garda whistleblowers. The protected disclosures made by two senior gardaí to the Department of Justice and Equality during the past week outline an orchestrated campaign by some in senior Garda management positions to undermine whistleblowers. They include the distribution of text messages to attack the reputations of whistleblowers, the opening of intelligence files on whistleblowers, the monitoring of the activity of whistleblowers and the briefing of elements of the media and selected politicians about the characters of whistleblowers. These are incredibly serious issues which go to the very core of our policing and justice systems.

We all have a duty to build public confidence in those systems. However, revelations such as those made in recent days do the very opposite, and contribute to declining morale in the Garda Síochána. No doubt, they make other potential whistleblowers think twice about coming forward. It seems that this is the very motive for such smears and attacks. The Government has failed to protect whistleblowers. A series of allegations has been made about how Sergeant Maurice McCabe was treated after he raised concerns about the investigation of serious crime in the Cavan-Monaghan division. Sergeant McCabe and John Wilson were smeared and bullied. The O'Higgins report said such actions contributed to what it called a continued "closing of ranks". Following the publication of the Guerin report, the Taoiseach told the Dáil there was a need for a root and branch analysis of the administration of justice, but here we are back to square one. Nothing has changed.

The mentality of some in senior Garda management is perhaps best summed up by the admission of the former Garda Commissioner, Mr. Martin Callinan, to me at the Committee of Public Accounts when he stated that the actions of whistleblowers are "disgusting". His word, not mine. The current Garda Commissioner, Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan, has again run for cover in respect of these allegations. She has talked the talk about disclosure, transparency and openness. When it comes to walking the walk, however, it is business as usual.

It has gone beyond the point of pushing these matters under the table. What is the Taoiseach going to do about these latest allegations of whistleblowers being hounded and discredited at the behest of some in senior Garda management? What of the suggestions that the Tánaiste has received other complaints to which, it appears, she has failed to respond for months? Is the Taoiseach aware of these complaints? Are the Tánaiste and the Garda Commissioner running for cover?

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