Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Michael Mullins. There are important economic issues troubling the public and they seek a resolution of them and assistance from these Houses. However, we cannot diminish the seriousness of what happened with regard to the Garda Commissioner. Last year, the Minister breached the confidence that should exist between every Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice and Equality. It is traditional that the Garda Commissioner keeps the Minister informed but the last thing he expects is that the Minister will go on television to use the information politically. The position of Commissioner was politicised at that stage. It was a serious error of judgment on behalf of the Taoiseach to fail to comprehend the gravity of what happened on that occasion. As a consequence, the Taoiseach has compounded the episode by sending the most senior official in the Department of Justice and Equality, An tUasal Ó Puirséil, to the Garda Commissioner with a political message. The intent of it was to cause the Commissioner to tender his resignation. That is particularly serious and it brings into question the position of the Taoiseach and not just the Minister for Justice and Equality. In that regard, I am somewhat critical of my party for tabling a motion in the Dáil that deals only with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter. It should include the Taoiseach, who has also been culpable in the Shattergate debacle.