Latest: Acting Commissioner says re-opening of Stepaside Garda Station was not politically motivated
The Acting Garda Commissioner has said the decision to re-open Stepaside Garda Station was not politically motivated.
They recommended re-opening four stations, but Stepaside was the only one acted on by government.
Opposition parties say the move clearly politically motivated, as Stepaside is in Minister Shane Ross's constituency.
Acting Garda Commissioner Donall Ó Cualáin says that is not how the decision was made.
"This piece of work began as a result of an initative outlined in the Programme for Government. That is the basis on which we carry out our work and that is the basis on which I would make any decisions - purely on policing requirements and policing needs and nothing else," he said.
The Acting Garda Commissioner, Donall Ó Cualáin, has apologised for not providing a report into the controversial re-opening of Stepaside Garda Station.
Mr Ó Cualáin says he should not have promised the report as it is the responsibility of the Department of Justice.
TDs are concerned Stepaside is only being re-opened to keep Minister Shane Ross happy, rather than for operational reasons.
However, the Acting Garda Commissioner says he cannot provide a report to attest the station should be one of those re-opened.
Donall Ó Cualáin said: "I indicated that the report could be provided, I made that commitment in good faith at the time.
"However, as the interim report is prepared for the Minister for Justice and Equality, it's a matter for the department to approve the release of the document.
"It was an error on my part, I apologise for that."
