Burton: No need for public inquiry into Ombudsman bugging claims
The Minister for Social Protection has said it would be a waste of money to hold a public inquiry into claims that the office of the Garda Ombudsman was bugged.
Fresh revelations in the Sunday Times today claim that a security sweep was carried out at the offices of GSOC after it emerged that a senior Garda appeared to have information about a case being investigated by them.
The Justice Minister has ruled out an independent inquiry into the claims, and the Garda Commissioner insists no members of the force carried out surveillance at its headquarters.
Alan Shatter will appear before the Public Service Oversight Committee on Wednesday to answer questions over the scandal.
Joan Burton said this was an opportunity for him to resolve these issues and said a public inquiry was not needed.
"He has come into the Dáil…People have questions arising from (his statement). He has (now) agreed to talk to the committee," she said.
"If you want instead to have some very lengthy investigation that will take two or three years and at the end, will tell us nothing...I'm not in favour of that."
