Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The sole objective of the Government in regard to the shocking allegations that are now in the public domain has been and remains getting the full truth for all of those involved. These allegations are extremely grave. At their heart is the suggestion that there was a deliberate smear campaign against Sergeant Maurice McCabe based on false claims of sexual abuse and that that campaign was orchestrated by senior Garda management.

Sexual abuse is probably the worst crime a person could be wrongly accused of. The suggestion that false allegations could be spread to undermine the credibility of a serving member of the Garda force is truly shocking. It should be noted that the Garda Commissioner has emphatically denied these allegations. We owe it to Sergeant McCabe and his family, and to all others about whom allegations have been made, to ensure that the truth of all of these matters is definitively established. This objective has been central to the Government's approach to these issues.

When two protected disclosures were made to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality in October 2016, she referred them within four days to Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill for examination and assessment. Following a thorough analysis of the protected disclosures Mr. Justice O'Neill reported back to the Tánaiste and recommended that Government establish a commission of investigation to determine the truth. Last week, the Government accepted this recommendation and published Mr. Justice O'Neill's draft terms of reference in full and without any changes. The Government also announced the nomination of the eminent serving Supreme Court Judge, Mr. Peter Charleton, as head the commission.

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