Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The previous two speakers asked the question that I am going to ask again now. When the anonymous complaint emerged, it concerned exactly this issue among others. Is the Tánaiste satisfied? An examination was carried out from which no issues arose. That was the first thing, in May. If the Tánaiste listens - and I think she should - to the transcript of today's edition of "Morning Ireland", she will hear that the bureau wrote in July 2014 to tell the Garda that the numbers did not add up, and it did not order any more mouthpieces for 2015 and 2016. Is the Tánaiste really stating that her Department was not informed by the Garda from July 2014 when the figures did not add up or that she and her Department had no knowledge of that very serious issue again in 2015? Is she telling us that the first time she or her Department became aware of the matter was in June of 2016? Is that what the Tánaiste is telling the House? If she is, there is something seriously wrong. We are now facing another independent inquiry because the basic facts that should be laid before this House by the Commissioner, through the Tánaiste, have not been given.

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