It has been a bad week for senior gardaí. This week the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission published a seven page summary into the public interest investigation into the Garda and expressed concern that the recommendations of the Morris tribunal on the handling of informers, and very serious issues arose at the time, have not been implemented by the Garda Síochána. Senior gardaí were challenged on this and on not co-operating fully. In only 17 of 62 information requests was the information received within 30 days.

When these issues were brought to the attention of senior gardaí and the Tánaiste's colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, they chose to batten down the hatches rather than let in the light. Will the Tánaiste allow an independent examination of the allegations? Will he allow someone to speak independently to the two Garda whistleblowers, look through the documentation and examine the issue independently so we can reassure the public that the concerns of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, about which I spoke last week, and the concerns of the two Garda whistleblowers are dealt with so the overwhelming majority of gardaí, who give so much for us every day and who are struggling with huge wage cuts and reductions in resources, can go out with their heads held high and not be let down by the failure of their senior colleagues to open the windows and let in the light?

The windows are being opened and the light is being let in. There was an investigation into the allegations and a report has been published. This report is being referred to the Oireachtas committee. The Oireachtas committee is free to invite in the two Garda officers concerned to hear them directly. It is free to invite in whatever senior Garda personnel they wish to respond and explain what is happening. The Minister for Justice and Equality has referred to the Garda Inspectorate the principles I read out on the new enhanced procedures for the operation of the fixed penalty points system so it will oversee the implementation of these new procedures and report back. In addition and as I stated, the Comptroller and Auditor General is conducting an audit into this.

The place for these issues to be examined is the Oireachtas committee, comprising elected representatives of the people whom the Garda serves very well and to whom ultimately all public services are accountable. This is where the windows will be opened and the light let in when these issues are discussed. As far as the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Government are concerned, the report has been published and put to the Oireachtas committee which is now free to take it forward for whatever further questioning and examination it considers appropriate and to do so in public where everybody can see it.