Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hope Senators will reflect on their contributions to debates inside and outside this House last November. A frenzied rush to judgment on the part of many brought down a good and decent woman. Returning to the tribunal’s central findings, it is also accepted that the former Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, did not speak with Commissioner O’Sullivan and the tribunal finds that in fact no situation requiring intervention by the Minister occurred before the O’Higgins commission.

A particular allegation was made about my Department’s involvement with those transcripts but the report states clearly that the transcripts provided to the tribunal from the O’Higgins commission of investigation are and always were complete despite unfounded media speculation to the contrary. I would like specifically to mention former Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan. Former Garda Commissioner O'Sullivan was the subject of a concerted campaign to undermine her position over a period of time, from the leaking of partial and misleading transcripts from the O’Higgins commission right up to the making of the two protected disclosures and even following the establishment of the tribunal itself. While I accept that the Oireachtas has a vital role in ensuring accountability, it is incumbent on all of us as elected representatives not to abuse the responsible positions we hold.