Taoiseach accused of burying details of Garda commissioner’s retirement

The Fianna Fáil leader accused the Taoiseach of burying "for political reasons'' the circumstances surrounding the retirement of former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan.

Micheál Martin said Enda Kenny should make a Dáil statement on the issue, adding that the House was not getting the full story. "There is an extraordinary silence on a very substantive question and issue, namely the removal of a Garda commissioner,'' he added.

Mr Martin said the issue which caused Mr Kenny such anxiety, the taping of telephone calls to Garda stations, had been brought to the attention of the department and the then minister some weeks earlier by the then commissioner.

Committee

The Fianna Fáil leader was speaking at Opposition leaders’ questions in the Dáil, in advance of the appearance later by the secretary general of the Department of Justice,

Brian Purcell

, before the

Oireachtas

justice committee. Mr Martin said he wanted to know what transpired at the meeting between Mr Kenny, Mr Purcell and former minister

Alan Shatter

, before Mr Purcell visited Mr Callinan at his home at the Taoiseach’s request.

Mr Kenny said that when the information was brought to his attention, he had felt it right and proper that the Garda commissioner of the day should be informed of his concern and anxiety because he would have to inform his Cabinet colleagues about it on the following morning.

Within two weeks, the Government, in line with a recommendation from the Oireachtas committee, had set out the terms of reference of a commission of investigation.

“Deputy Martin wants to change that and have a political discussion about the issue,’’ Mr Kenny added.

The Taoiseach said it was not a case of Mr Callinan being told the Taoiseach was "full of anxiety''. He added that what was brought to his attention had gone on for 30 years, and there was knowledge of recordings in Garda stations all over the country and a case in west Cork where a woman was murdered.

Seriousness

“I was informed of the seriousness of this matter, which was new to me and the country,’’ he added. He said he did not have the authority to sack anybody, but did have a responsibility to ensure the commissioner of the day was aware of what he as Taoiseach had been apprised of.

“My request was that the commissioner would be fully apprised of the anxieties and concerns arising from the information given to me,’’ he added.

Mr Kenny said he would be complying with a request to respond to the commission investigating the issue. He would provide a full and comprehensive response to the query.

Mr Martin said the Taoiseach should have informed his Cabinet colleagues in advance of any despatching of a senior public servant to the Garda commissioner.