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

The Deputy has made a number of comments. I will repeat what I said. I believe - the Deputy may not - that due process is important. I believe the law should be used carefully in these circumstances. I do not believe in making a decision before the evidence has been heard. What we have is a body of allegations which have been brought forward. I have said to the House that I believe they are serious and ought to be investigated. I will ensure that happens and that there is follow-up, depending on the outcome and output from that investigation. Of course I will. That is my job and that is what I will do.

Quite a number of things have changed. For the first time we have independent oversight in the Policing Authority. The public, at public meetings, can see An Garda Síochána being accountable to the new Policing Authority, chaired by Josephine Feehily and a very competent and serious board totally committed to its task. That is different. That is a change. GSOC has been given new powers. I am perfectly prepared to meet both chairs to discuss if further changes are necessary to the legislation.

Deputy Wallace has made a number of points about investigations going on over a period of time. Yes, investigations do take time. There are procedures to be followed. On the disclosures made some time ago and what has been happening, without commenting in any way on the disclosures or who has made them, I can tell the House that I am extremely concerned about matters which have been raised about policing in Athlone. By the way, I wrote to Deputy Mick Wallace but have not received a reply.

I have sought and received a number of reports from the Garda authorities about this matter. These indicate that a series of investigations have taken place into the complex issues involved, including criminal investigations, disciplinary investigations and investigations by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. Not all of these are yet completed. I am monitoring the situation closely and expect further reports from An Garda Síochána about these matters. As I have already said, should the present investigations not succeed in fully addressing matters of public concern which have arisen, and I am referring to the investigations under way, not the more recent protected disclosures which only arrived on Monday and which I am currently considering, I will have no hesitation in establishing some other form of inquiry.

I will wait, however, for due process to take its place and continue. I will not act precipitously, either regarding that investigation or, indeed, the recent protected disclosures. I will follow the letter of the law. I will follow the legislation, passed in this House, where people have a right to confidentiality and due process. I would not be doing my job as Minister for Justice and Equality if I did not follow due process and the law laid down regarding protected disclosures, a law which we have all agreed should be followed. We are the first Government, as has been spoken about for many years, which has brought in a law to deal with the issue of protected disclosures.

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