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Government to set up inquiry into calls bugged at garda stations

The government is to set up a Commission of Investigation into serious claims surrounding An Gard...
Newstalk
Newstalk

06.47 25 Mar 2014


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Government to set up inquiry i...

Government to set up inquiry into calls bugged at garda stations

Newstalk
Newstalk

06.47 25 Mar 2014


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The government is to set up a Commission of Investigation into serious claims surrounding An Garda Síochána, calling them a "matter of significant public concern".

The Cabinet decided on the move after it was claimed a system was in place in a large number of garda stations whereby incoming and outgoing telephone calls were taped and recorded.

Ministers were advised of the revelations at the Cabinet meeting today but as a matter is before the courts they will not comment on a specific case.

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The Commission will be chaired by a senior serving or retired member of the Judiciary.

A statement from the government says from the information available, the practice of making recordings was in place for many years and was discontinued in November of 2013.

It is not yet clear why this practice was in operation.

In the statement, the government adds that it has asked "for a full, detailed report on all aspects of this matter from An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality, so that an informed decision can be made on the legal and other consequences, with the assistance of the Attorney-General".

The terms of reference for the Commission will be decided shortly, once a full report on the circumstances has been made available to the government.

The government says it also agreed "to the retirement of Mr. Martin Callinan from the position of Commissioner of An Garda Síochána".

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil that the recording of phone calls at garda stations began up to 30 years ago, and may have implications for court cases that have already been dealt with.

Newstalk's Political Correspondent Páraic Gallagher is in Leinster House and says this is a serious development.

Martin Callinan says he retired in the best interests of the gardai & his family

'Minister Shatter will not resign'

Meanwhile the Taoiseach has also insisted that he will not ask the Justice Minister Alan Shatter to resign over his handling of the penalty points affair. However Mr. Kenny said the Minister would address the Dáil on Thursday on the subject.

There are now suspicions that Minister Shatter will use that opportunity to correct the record and withdraw his claim that the two whistleblowers refused to co-operate with an internal inquiry.

But the Taoiseach gave a firm answer to Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin when asked if the Minister would be stepping down.

It follows repeated calls for the Justice Minister to follow the Garda Commissioner and leave his job. Fianna Fáil says the position of Alan Shatter is untenable after Martin Callinan resigned this morning.

The resignation - or retirement as he is calling it - of Mr. Callian came as a shock this morning.

A statement confirming it said he retired in the interests of the force and his family, but makes no reference to having called the actions of the whistleblowers 'disgusting'.

Mick Wallace - the TD who exposed the penalty points controversy - wants Justice Minister Alan Shatter to resign.

PAC Chair John McGuinness also called, here on Newstalk, for the Justice Minister to follow the Commissioner.

The Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin seconded that.

See a timeline of events leading up to Martin Callinan's resignation


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