Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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181. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he advised the recently retired Garda Commissioner directly or indirectly not to withdraw his remark "disgusting", made at a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15877/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate there were, of course, ongoing discussions between officials of my Department and the former Garda Commissioner about issues relating to the controversy surrounding the allegations concerning the cancellation of fixed charge notices. These would also have included discussions relating to a variety of issues arising from the Commissioner's appearance before the Public Accounts Committee.

While ongoing discussions would have encompassed the possibility of the Garda Commissioner making a further statement in relation to a specific remark he made at the Committee meeting, it was recognised at all times that the question of the Commissioner making any further statement on the issue, and the possible content of any such statement, was solely a matter for decision by the former Commissioner himself. I can assure the Deputy that there was no question of such a possibility being ruled out by me or my Department.