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

We have made a bit of progress in the session. We have established that the Taoiseach was made aware of allegations of sexual abuse against Garda Maurice McCabe in May 2014. He was well aware of the narrative around this man. The Minister, Deputy Zappone, has finally clarified that she briefed the Taoiseach in advance of the Cabinet meeting of the meeting with Maurice McCabe and the false allegations. The idea that the Taoiseach comes back and says that he knew there were allegations but he did not know there was a file is a bit far-fetched. What did he imagine there would be? Of course there would be a file where there is a complaint, and of course that would be with Tusla.

My question is for the Tánaiste. Last Thursday, I asked her a very specific and open-ended question. I asked her of her state of knowledge of communication with other State agencies in respect of Maurice McCabe. She misled the Dáil. She did not put on the record her knowledge of meetings in terms of the McCabes and Tusla.

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