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

When the judge was given this task and looked at the protected disclosures he said they were unique because they were about the most senior members of An Garda Síochána and incredibly serious. He said that if, at the end of the process, it was proven that whomever was not telling the full truth, there would be the most serious consequences. He said that these matters should be dealt with alone because they were so serious, they deserved a commission of investigation on their own. One of the cental points there, and I discussed it with Deputy Micheál Martin earlier, will be in relation to the interaction between the whistleblower, Sergeant Maurice McCabe, and what happened to him in his dealings with Tusla. It is in the interests of getting at the truth and dealing with the very issues the Deputy raises that this goes ahead because it will investigate, in the context of Sergeant McCabe, the very issue the Deputy is highlighting. It is important that we move ahead quickly to establish this tribunal of inquiry. If people want quick answers, we have to be very careful not to extend the terms of reference so much that this becomes impossible.

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