Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received communication from the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission regarding a possible public interest inquiry into the circumstances in which serious drug charges against a person (details supplied) were dropped; if the internal Garda inquiry into the same affair has been concluded; if he has received a report from the gardaí on their inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46752/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I informed the House previously that I received an interim report from the Garda Commissioner on a particular case involving a convicted drug dealer. An internal Garda inquiry is ongoing into the matter at present.

The House will also be aware that I agreed to a request from the Garda Commissioner that the interim report provided to me should be forwarded to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The Ombudsman Commission has indicated that it has opened a public interest investigation in relation to the withdrawing of charges against an individual.

In the circumstances, I believe that it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment about the case pending the outcome of that investigation. If action is required on my part as a result of that investigation then, of course, I will take it.