Recently the courts exonerated a number of gardaí from the mid-west region. They had been subjected to a seven-year investigation for being involved in practices that were commonplace in every single Garda district from one end of this country to the other. They were they only people who were prosecuted. During the course of that seven-year investigation, the gardaí were suspended, interrogated, vilified and had their names dragged through the mud. The net result of all this is a huge legal bill for the State and Garda morale in the mid-west on the floor. Does the Taoiseach think Garda management has questions to answer about this very ill-advised, partisan and heavy-handed prosecution? If so, when do we expect those answers to be forthcoming?

I am very much aware of the investigation, suspension and prosecution of the gardaí referred to by Deputy O'Dea. The most important fact to emphasise is all those gardaí were acquitted. That is how the administration of justice operated. It obviously operated in an impartial and independent way. As to whether or not there are questions for Garda management, any time there is an acquittal there may be reflections on whether the prosecution should have been brought or not but that is a matter for Garda management. What we cannot say should become normal is that when there is an acquittal there necessarily has to be an investigation into a prosecution. It is an essential part of the administration of justice that cases are prosecuted. Many people are convicted but the gardaí the Deputy referred to were acquitted and found not guilty.