Seanad report: Consideration of the Garda Síochána Bill ended on an acrimonious note, with Jim Higgins (FG) telling Minister for Justice Michael McDowell: "You can run, but you can't hide."
Following the passage of the Bill, Mr Higgins sought permission to address the House, but this was refused by Cathaoirleach Rory Kiely, who said that traditionally only party spokespersons were allowed to do so. Mr Higgins said he had been subjected to a verbal onslaught by Mr McDowell earlier in the debate.
Mr Kiely: "We're not getting involved in that."
Mr Higgins said the Minister should have spelt out the steps that operated in the redesignation of Garda investigations.
Mr Kiely refused to change his ruling.
By 26 votes to 18 it was agreed that the Bill be received for final consideration. Dr Maurice Hayes (Ind), who will chair the group which has been given responsibility for overseeing reform of the Garda, did not vote.
Mr McDowell had earlier referred to comments made by Mr Higgins about the handling of the McBrearty case by gardaí. The Minister said an allegation had been made that the Garda Commissioner had misled the public.
Mr Higgins had also suggested that he, the Minister, had displayed shock in public at a misleading statement of the commissioner and had "further suggested that I probably in private reprimanded him on that account. These were very serious charges to lay against an office holder of the status of the Garda Commissioner. Given that Senator Higgins indicated to the House that all would be revealed in good time, I made it my business this morning to contact the Garda Commissioner to find out the truth of the matter, namely, that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever in the allegations made by Senator Higgins. The truth of the matter is that Commissioner Conroy was only apprised of the alteration of the status of this investigation on the Pulse system in November 2004.
"He immediately communicated with the relevant parties. He was in no way personally involved in that decision prior to that and the allegations made in this House by Senator Higgins are totally untrue.
"I knew they were untrue as regards myself because I was present when the commissioner made the remarks in public. The commissioner is a man of transcendent honesty and decency."