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

The difficulty is that this line has been well rehearsed in the Chamber and beyond for a long time. I suggest that the position, as the Taoiseach has outlined it, has run out of any credibility, not least for serving members of An Garda Síochána and, most particularly, for whistleblowers who have come forward only to be targeted and smeared.

The Taoiseach stated that the Minister will reflect on these matters and decide what to do. I understand the Minister has been in possession of correspondence for some months. I understand the Minister failed to respond to a number of Garda whistleblowers. Who is in charge? Is the Minister or the Garda Commissioner in charge? Who is accountable for these practices and the smearing and targeting of Garda whistleblowers? Does the Taoiseach have confidence in the Garda Commissioner that she is discharging her duties fully and faithfully? Does he have confidence in her capacity to protect whistleblowers? I ask the same question of his Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald.

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