Fitzgerald will report to Dáil on talks with Garda Commissioner

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice has said she will report to the Dáil on her discussions with Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan on the O’Higgins commission.

Frances Fitzgerald told the Dáil on Thursday she would inform the House fully of her ongoing contact with the commissioner, in line the legal principles which both of them had to observe.

The House is scheduled to debate the commission’s report next week.

Pressure continued to build on the commissioner on Wednesday over the O’Higgins report and the leaking of excerpts from the transcript of its proceedings, in which her barrister said his instructions were to challenge the “motivation and credibility” of the Garda whistleblower, Sgt Maurice McCabe.

The barrister, Colm Smyth SC, had earlier said that his specific instructions from the commissioner were to challenge the “integrity” of Sgt McCabe and suggested that the evidence would demonstrate the concerns.

However, he later said he was mistaken in challenging Sgt McCabe’s integrity.

Ms O’Sullivan has reiterated her support for Sgt McCabe and insisted she never regarded him as “malicious”.

Opposition TDs have criticised the apparent contradiction between her public statements and her instructions to her counsel, as contained in the leaked transcripts.

Ms Fitzgerald told the Dáil, “I fully support the commissioner in the difficult job she is doing and I am confident that our discussions will help lead to addressing the concerns which have been raised as much as possible, consistent with the principles I have outlined,’’ she added.

Ms Fitzgerald said she had already said she believed the commissioner would put further information in the public arena, where it was feasible and legal to do so.

“That remains my position,’’ she said.

The Tánaiste was replying on the Order of Business to Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald.