Mick Wallace: Garda Commissioner 'doing so much damage' to Gardaí

Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan is doing "so much damage" to the Force which is in "turmoil", the Dáil has heard today, writes Daniel McConnell of the Irish Examiner.

Mick Wallace: Garda Commissioner 'doing so much damage' to Gardaí

Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan is doing "so much damage" to the Force which is in "turmoil", the Dáil has heard today, writes Daniel McConnell of the Irish Examiner.

Revelations in this week's Irish Examiner once again dominated Leaders' Questions today in the Dáil, where Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald came under serious fire over the scandal.

Independents4Change TD Mick Wallace, in a very heated exchange, pleaded with the Tánaiste to remove the Commissioner from her position.

Mr Wallace said he and his colleague Clare Daly have met with the two whistleblowers who made the latest Protected Disclosures and said the Commissioner has failed to end the persecution of whistleblowers in the force.

"The force is in turmoil... she is doing so much damage," Mr Wallace said.

In response, the Tánaiste said that while details of the disclosures are in the public domain, she is precluded by law from commenting.

She also said that those involved are entitled to due process and she would not be rushing to judgement.

In response to Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald, the Tánaiste said the Commissioner is entitled to her full confidence.

Ms Fitzgerald said that she would not be slow to establish a full inquiry into the allegations should it be merited.

Fianna Fáil's Charlie McConalogue began by asking the Tánaiste to state whether it was true that the two people behind the disclosures are likely to refuse to cooperate with any pending inquiry.

In response, the Tánaiste said she could not comment.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Pashcal Donohoe has expressed his "full confidence" in Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan, writes Elaine Loughlin of the Irish Examiner.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil that a judicial-led inquiry may now be established by the Government into the allegations, following the reports.

Speaking in Dublin this morning, Mr Donohoe said Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald is now looking into the latest allegations.

He added: "I have full support and confidence in the commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan, she has made cleaar her clear desire to tackle all of the cultural issues in relation to whistle-blowing and all of the issues that has generated in recent years. I fully accept that.

"We are making progress in that area but I know we have more progress to make and the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice is now fully considering the issue that she became aware of under legislation that we brought in and will be making a determination on the right course of action on that soon."

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