The Justice Minister Alan Shatter has paid tribute to Martin Callinan.
The former Garda Commissioner took early retirement this morning after mounting pressure to withdraw the use of the word ‘disgusting’ in relation to the actions of Garda whistleblowers.
This evening, Minister Shatter thanked Callinan for his dedication and his service to the State.
It follows heated debate between the Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin and Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dáil over whether the Callinan had retired or resigned.
I wish to pay tribute to the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, on his retirement from An Garda Síochána.
As Commissioner and throughout his very distinguished service in the Force he has made an enormous contribution to fighting crime and I believe that this contribution will be seen as a legacy of which he can be very proud and for which the community he served are in his debt.
The high reputation of An Garda Síochána has been gained down through the years through people's experience of dealing with members like Martin Callinan, often at times of great difficulty. I believe, at these challenging times for the Force, the men and women who serve in it will continue to enjoy the respect of the community they serve, often at great risk to themselves.
I extend to him my sincere thanks for his dedication and service to the State throughout his long and distinguished career.