TDs ask for public Garda tapes probe

The Government has been asked to prioritise questions about the Garda commissioner’s resignation and the Department of Justice’s managing of affairs as part of the Garda tapes inquiry.

TDs have also asked the special inquiry into the secret recording of phone conversations to be held publicly.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny received the request from the Oireachtas Justice Committee last night after the announcement of the draft terms for the judge-led inquiry earlier this week. TDs unanimously agreed the request and said they reserved the right to call officials before the committee.

Committee chairman David Stanton said members wanted the terms amended so two issues are “frontloaded” when the inquiry begins ... “first, the management of correspondence within the Department of Justice and the circumstances surrounding the resignation of the [garda] commissioner,” said the Cork East TD.

He said the committee had suggested these two aspects could be decided in an eight-week period.

The Fennelly Commission could then proceed with its investigation into the practice of recording phone conversations in and out of Garda stations, members said. The Cabinet has given the inquiry until the end of the year to complete its work.

But opposition TDs say questions need to be answered soon about why Martin Callinan resigned and why a letter from him about recordings in Garda stations was not seen by Alan Shatter for two weeks.

The inquiry will look at the taping of calls at Garda stations and prisons over 30 years and include recordings relating to the probe into Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s murder.