My Labour Party colleagues Deputies Eoghan Kenny and Alan Kelly have recently uncovered alarming details of a shocking sweetener given to the former Garda Commissioner. Last week, we learned from them that roughly €1 million in public money went towards accommodation, refurbishment and security for one of the highest paid public servants in the State. Public funds covered a rent-free home for the former Garda Commissioner in the Phoenix Park at a time when many ordinary gardaí cannot afford to rent or buy in Dublin. We need to know why the public was kept in the dark on this for so long. Deputy Kenny has already sought responses from the Garda and the OPW but I want to put these questions on the record of the Dáil. Why was a house leased from the OPW before the recruitment process even began? What does this say about the fairness of the 2018 selection process for the Garda Commissioner if this accommodation deal was never publicly acknowledged as part of the package? Clearly, multiple questions arise from this revelation and we need to have answers.

I thank Deputy Bacik. As has been previously stated, the Policing Authority advised the then Minister for Justice and Equality in 2017, in advance of the recruitment of a Garda Commissioner, of the terms and conditions that should apply to such an appointment. This advice included a recommendation that in the case of an external successful candidate it may be appropriate to provide for accommodation or an accommodation allowance, given the requirement that the Garda Commissioner reside in Dublin. The recommendation at that time was accepted and the Department initially engaged with the Office of Public Works to explore support that it could provide if it turned out an external candidate was successful. Further to the appointment of former Commissioner Harris in June 2018, suitable accommodation was identified for the Commissioner. The OPW at that point set the rent for this property, which was paid by An Garda Síochána and, as has already been confirmed, the former Commissioner paid benefit in kind in respect of the accommodation that was provided. The Department of justice and the OPW can provide any further information that Deputy Bacik is seeking.