Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Protected disclosures are protected and the law is there for whistleblowers. These are allegations that are vehemently denied by the two people against whom they were made. For this purpose, the Attorney General spoke to the Chief Justice about appointing a judge to deal with it, as the Tánaiste announced yesterday.

There are set procedures that have to be followed. The Government yesterday approved the Tánaiste's recommendations that a commission should be set up, that the draft order which she brought to Government would be approved, that the order would be laid before the House and that the statement of reasons would be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. With regard to the approving of the appropriate motions, it was agreed that a suitable person should be appointed to conduct the investigation and that the issues are followed in correct sequence in that regard.

What Deputy Howlin said has been commented upon by the Ceann Comhairle in respect of hearsay, and Deputy Howlin has answered that. What is at issue here is a series of allegations the truth of which has not been tested yet, and which I can tell the House are wholly and vehemently denied by those against whom the allegations are made. These are not circumstances where a prima facie case of wrongdoing has been established. Mr. Justice O'Neill makes no findings in regard to anyone. In the case of the Garda Commissioner, as I have consistently stated on many occasions, there has been no finding of any wrongdoing of any kind against her and in those circumstances, she is entitled to our full support and that remains the position.

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