James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)

At a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts at the end of June, the then Garda Commissioner confirmed he had reported to the Minister on the controlled delivery operation that related to the late Evan Fitzgerald and the shocking incident in Carlow. The then Commissioner went on to say that he took note of the comments made by Senator Michael McDowell on 24 June in the Seanad about what was or was not said in the currency of a live bail application, and that he had referred those comments to the Garda ombudsman, Fiosrú, for consideration. On the RTÉ "This Week" programme that subsequent Sunday, the Garda ombudsman confirmed that there is nothing further to be considered by it. I raised this issue previously in July when the Minister, Deputy Chambers, was standing in at Leaders' Questions. He indicated he would raise this with the Minister. My question then and now is whether the Minister considered the matter concluded regarding what was or was not said in that District Court bail application, or the report he received from the Commissioner. Has the Minister discussed these issues with the new Commissioner and does he intend to carry out any further inquiries on the matter?

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