Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach avoided answering the key questions I put to him. He is, perhaps, the only person who has that view on the removal of the former Garda Commissioner. Irrespective of one's views on the former Commissioner or whether one was for or against him, the bottom line is that on this issue he did everything appropriately. However, the Taoiseach sent the Secretary General out to his house in the middle of the night. That does not normally happen. Nor is it normal when a Commissioner happens to resign the following morning. While the Taoiseach managed to say with a straight face that he had nothing to do with it, the bottom line is that the immediate context was this phone-recording crisis. I recall the meeting between the Taoiseach, myself and Deputy Adams well. The only person there who said that court cases could be overturned was the Taoiseach. That was on the basis of the advice he had received from the Attorney General. I find it astonishing that the Taoiseach does not have some regrets and does not at least accept that the wrong thing happened that evening.

Essentially, a Garda Commissioner was removed and the law governing the removal of a Garda Commissioner was bypassed. That eventually led to a resignation which covered all the technicalities. Cabinet approval was not sought. The message was relayed that the Cabinet could not have confidence even though it was not consulted. That is not good constitutionally for the country. Things should be done according to proper practice and in a proper way. The latter did not happen on that occasion and the reason was a panicked, alarmist and over-reactive response from the Taoiseach and the Attorney General. The Taoiseach has failed to comment on the failure of the Attorney General to talk to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality. Why will he not answer that question? It is incredible.

See this speech in context