Varadkar: ‘I’m having difficulty wrapping my head around crisis

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has revealed he is having difficulty “getting his head around” the latest twists in the Garda crisis.

Mr Varadkar said he did not know if his demands for former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan to withdraw remarks branding the actions of whistleblowers “disgusting” had impacted on his decision to resign.

The transport minister indicated that the revelations about widespread bugging of telephones in Garda stations across the country for up to 30 years may also have been a factor in Mr Callinan’s surprise decision.

Mr Varadkar admitted to finding the latest twists in the Garda crisis “confusing” as he moved to publicly back Justice Minister Alan Shatter.

“The whole thing is quite confusing. The Cabinet and ministers only became aware of most of these things in the last couple of days. We still need to absorb that information. I have difficulty getting my head around it,” Mr Varadkar said.

“The Taoiseach acted very quickly to establish a commission of inquiry to examine all matters related to the taping of conversations at Garda stations.

“Everyone in the country needs to continue to show support and respect for rank-and-file gardaí on the ground, who are the ones who protect us. They have done absolutely nothing wrong and are not to blame for this.”

Despite reports that Mr Shatter had refused to meet Mr Varadkar for some time to discuss the penalty points affair, the transport minister said he “absolutely” had confidence in his Cabinet colleague. He said they had a productive face-to-face meeting earlier this week in which they had made progress on road traffic issues.

Mr Varadkar welcomed Government moves to set up a Garda authority to oversee the force and expressed hope the commission of inquiry about to be established into the bugging affair will get to the bottom of what happened.

Mr Varadkar refused to say whether he thought it had been right for the Garda commissioner to quit his post.