With respect, these are really serious matters. The Minister has not answered any of our questions - not one - and this is not the first time. She has dodged questions from other people in the Opposition previously in the Dáil.

The first question I asked had nothing to do with the protected disclosure. Why will the Minister not tell the public? Let me read it again. When was the Minister first made aware there was an issue with the holsters? It has been alleged the issue with the holsters resulted in the death of a garda. That has nothing to do with the protected disclosure. It is about the Minister being upfront, honest and transparent about when she, as Minister for Justice, was made aware of it. Second, when was the Minister briefed about the safety concerns regarding the holsters? Why will she not tell us? What is she hiding?

On another question I asked, the assistant commissioner admitted on the radio today that there was interference by the former Garda Commissioner in the protected disclosure process. That does not have to do with the protected disclosure itself; it is the process relating to these protected disclosures. What does the Minister have to say about that as a member of the Government and a Minister who was in office-----

Thank you, Deputy Doherty.

-----at the time he was interfering with an independent and autonomous office? It is earth-shattering that An Garda Síochána admitted blatantly on the radio-----

Conclude, Deputy Doherty.

-----that it interfered with the process. I will ask the question again and ask that the Minister stop hiding. When was she first made aware of the issue with the holsters? Will she give the date? When was she briefed-----

We have the questions, Deputy.

-----about the safety concerns? What did she do about it? What does she have to say-----

I call the Minister to respond.

-----about gardaí at a senior level saying they interfered with the independent process?

Hear, hear.

First, I will not be lectured to by a party whose history when it comes to protecting our gardaí is less than standard.

I have done everything in my role as Minister for Justice to protect gardaí and make sure that when they carry out their duties they have the resources they need and that the legislation is in place to protect them. That is always how I have carried out my work. It is how the current Minister carries out his work and how the Minister before me carried out his work. There is a clear process in place. There is a clear structure in place, which clearly outlines that, where matters are a protected disclosure and where issues are before the courts or other bodies, I am precluded from commenting, as are others, so I am not hiding.

You are hiding. Just answer the question.

Deputy Doherty, allow the Minister to answer the question.

No, hold on a second, I am not hiding anything.

Let me be clear-----

Is the Minister saying she cannot answer the question as to when she and the Department were first made aware? That is just nonsense.

Allow the Minister to continue.

The Deputy just does not like the answer

There is no answer.

We elected representatives to this House who then passed legislation in 2014. Sinn Féin supported the legislation in 2022, which strengthened-----

How can the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, tell us that you were told in August 2020? How can the Minister for justice tell us that when the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will not tell us herself?

Stop interrupting her.

Deputy Doherty, allow the Minister to respond, please.

Okay, I apologise, but this is very frustrating, with respect.

I have been pretty clear in what I have said. It is a matter of public record that An Garda Síochána changed the holsters. It said that clearly. It is also a matter of public record that the Garda Síochána Act 2005 states clearly that procurement or any of the other matters the Deputy outlined are the role and responsibility of An Garda Síochána and that I had no role as Minister for Justice in that.

When were you informed?

It is also clear-----

When were you informed?

It is also clear - and we have done this for a reason - that there is a differentiation between the roles of An Garda Síochána, the actions and roles of the Ombudsman-----

Why will the Minister not tell us when she was informed?

-----and those of me or other Ministers. That was clearly introduced and voted for by this House in 2014 and again in 2022.

Why will she not tell us?

Stop interrupting.

It is ridiculous. It is a simple question.

We now move to Deputy Gannon.