Wednesday 28 May 2014 16.10 Acting Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan has said that gardaí should not investigate gardaí.
Commissioner O'Sullivan is appearing before the Oireachtas Justice Committee today.
She has said that all serious allegations against members of the gardaí should be investigated by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and not referred back to the gardaí to investigate, as occurs at present.
The last time Ms O'Sullivan appeared before an Oireachtas committee, she was sitting beside former garda commissioner Martin Callinan when he described the actions of the garda whistleblowers as "disgusting".
Today in her opening statement, she outlined her own support for more openness and accountability in the delivery of the policing service.
The acting commissioner welcomed the establishment of an independent police authority with responsibility for oversight of the gardaí.
Commissioner O'Sullivan said she supports constructive engagement with the Ombudsman Commission, but said GSOC should investigate all serious complaints and allegations against members of the force.
She also told the committee that the internal garda audit unit should be strengthened.
Department of Justice Secretary General Brian Purcell is also due to appear before the committee today to discuss the findings of the Guerin Report.
The report severely criticised the gardaí, the department and GSOC for the handling of complaints of malpractice by garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
It found there was "sufficient basis for concern" about whether all appropriate steps were taken to "investigate and address" the complaints.
Events surrounding the decision of Mr Callinan to resign in March are also expected to be discussed.
Sinn Féin's justice spokesperson Pádraig Mac Lochlainn earlier said he hopes that Mr Purcell will not "stonewall" members today.
Mr Purcell has indicated that he may be precluded from answering certain questions that fall within the terms of reference of a Commission of Investigation set up by the Government.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Mac Lochlainn said the committee will be putting a number of questions to Mr Purcell, including why it took weeks to get what was very important correspondence to the attention of his line minister.
He said it will also ask Mr Purcell what he said to the garda commissioner on the night "whereby the commissioner retired/resigned/was sacked the next day".
Mr Mac Lochlainn said chapter 19 of the report was a damning indictment of the culture within the Department of Justice and Mr Purcell would have to go through all of that.
He said the public needs to know what happened in relation to the departure of Mr Callinan.
Asked about reports that Sgt McCabe continues to suffer harassment and abuse, Mr Mac Lochlainn said it is likely that Commissioner O'Sullivan will be asked about the issue.
He said members needed to get assurances that the issue was being dealt with.
It is important that a clear signal be sent to whistleblowers that if you speak out you will be protected, he added.
Martin calls for full account of Purcell-Callinan meeting
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil that the meeting between Mr Purcell and Mr Callinan in March is a serious issue.
He said he already outlined that the information he was given was of such a serious nature that Mr Callinan should be made aware of his concerns and anxiety arising from the information he had received as he would be talking to the Cabinet about it the next day.
He was responding to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.
Mr Martin said it was worrying and bizarre that Mr Purcell had set out conditions about what he could answer.
He said this was essentially gagging the committee.
Mr Martin said there was nothing stopping the Taoiseach from giving a full account to the committee or the Dáil about the meeting between Mr Purcell and Mr Callinan.
Mr Kenny said that his sole concern was that Mr Callinan should be made aware of the information he had received.
He said that there was nothing mysterious about the resignation of the former commissioner.
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