Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has shed no light on what took place or what it was about. He referred to armed response capacity. To what is it a response? I am told the estimates for the number involved was in the order of 20 to 30. They were heavily-armed and disguised members of An Garda Síochána. What was their purpose? What was it all about? It certainly created significant disruption that morning. Children going to school were subjected to the spectacle of a significant disturbance in their housing scheme and in one of the principal streets at the heart of our town.

The Minister has just stated that an incident occurred in which an individual was injured. Unless we are told to the contrary, the individual who was injured was obviously reacting to what would have been a very frightening presentation. I do not know whether he was a person of interest or whether anybody associated with him was. I know nothing of that but it would be a terrible travesty if he was an innocent party who was frightened into an action that resulted in serious injury and his hospitalisation. What was it about? It is important that the House is advised on what the criteria are for the deployment of such a number of heavily-armed and disguised members of An Garda Síochána. It should not be part of normal policing behaviour or activity. It should only be a response where significant threat or the prospect of same presents.

Once again, can the Minister shed any further light on the mystery of the events in Monaghan town of 26 March? Otherwise, the mystery continues.

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