Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin welcomes the publication of the terms of reference for the commission of investigation into whistleblower allegations concerning An Garda Síochána and the most senior levels of Garda management. Despite Senator Conway's assertion, public confidence in An Garda Síochána is at an all-time low and one could not blame any individual Garda for there being low morale throughout the force.The terms of reference for this commission of investigation will investigate the allegation made by Superintendent David Taylor that he was directed by the former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and-or the current Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan to brief the media negatively against Sergeant Maurice McCabe; whether Superintendent David Taylor was directed to draw journalists' attention to the allegation of criminal misconduct made by Sergeant McCabe and that this was the root of the motivation for whistleblowing by him; whether there were contacts between members of An Garda Síochána and journalists with regard to Sergeant Maurice McCabe and whether it was Commissioner O'Sullivan who had orchestrated an RTE broadcast purporting to be a leaked account of the unpublished O'Higgins' report that branded Sergeant Maurice McCabe as a liar and irresponsible; and why former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan met with Deputy John McGuinness in a car park, what the purpose of that meeting was and what was discussed that day.

While Sinn Féin recognises that the commission of investigation has "discretion in relation to the scope of the investigation it considers necessary and appropriate to achieve the general objective of the investigation", we would like to see the terms of reference amended to ensure that communications between members of An Garda Síochána and members of Government and the Oireachtas and other State agencies relevant to these matters are also examined. This commission, and the allegations at the centre of it made by Superintendent David Taylor, is the latest in a long list of controversies and issues that have plagued An Garda Síochána in recent years, from the penalty points to the Fennelly, Cooke and Guerin reports and so on. If there were more meetings beyond that of Martin Callinan and Deputy John McGuinness, we need to be informed of what discussions took place. These allegations go to the heart of Garda management and, as a result, Sinn Féin has asked Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan to step aside, without prejudice, for the duration of the commission of investigation as she has been specifically named in these allegations. Sinn Féin did the same in the North when we requested that Arlene Foster step aside for the duration of an investigation into the renewable heat incentive scheme. As stated previously, this is no reflection on Commissioner O'Sullivan or a comment on the veracity of the allegations. It is, rather, a statement for the need for continued public confidence in the operation of an Garda Síochána.