Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The issue is that it is not appropriate for the Garda to carry out this investigation. That is clearly the situation. Until the Minister stands up to the culture of cover-up that exists in An Garda Síochána, we are going to continue with this problem and continue to have these levels of malpractice. My understanding is that in one instance thousands of calls were cancelled by one individual. How was that person able to continue doing that?

It was only when this issue was going to come into the public domain through the publication of a story in The Sunday Timesthat the Garda contacted the Policing Authority. This is wrong and it stinks to the high heaven. I think the Minister knows that, and it would be prudent of her now to appoint an independent investigator to investigate this practice and to ensure that not only do we have an apology and assurance that it is going to stop, but that somebody is held to account for it. The problem in this country is that nobody is ever held to account.

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