Louth Fianna Fáil TD Seamus Kirk has said that only a full independent inquiry into the allegations of covert surveillance on the Garda Ombudsman can end the confusion on the issue and restore public confidence. Deputy Kirk is member of the Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions.
Deputy Kirk said: “It is over a week since this controversy began and the Government has not done enough to resolve the matter and ensure public confidence. There are differences in what Minister Shatter said in his statement to the Dáil last week and what Garda Ombudsman members have told Committee on Public Service Oversight.
“I welcome the fact that Minister Shatter has agreed to come before the committee this week but it is increasingly clear that the full independent investigation made up of a panel experts, as Fianna Fáil called for as soon as this story emerged, must be established.
“With the greatest of respect to my colleagues on the Public Service Oversight and Petitions Committee we do not have the necessary technical expertise that I would like to see brought in to comprehensively investigate what happened at GSOC.
“The issues at the heart of this controversy and the Government’s handling of it are extremely serious and must be addressed in a manner that is open, transparent and will have the confidence of the public.”
