Enda Kenny dodges questions on Fennelly

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has again refused to answer questions about the report into the Garda commissioner’s resignation and to set out events leading up to his controversial departure.

Wed, 01 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Juno McEnroe

The Fennelly inquiry examining what led Martin Callinan to quit the force yesterday also said there was “no timetable” on when its report into the issue would be completed.

Opposition leaders claim Mr Kenny circumvented Cabinet rules and effectively sacked Mr Callinan a year ago when he sent a senior civil servant to his one night.

Mr Kenny faced Dáil questions yesterday on whether he had been recalled to give evidence by the inquiry and why he had claimed there was legislation which makes it illegal for him to discuss the probe.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the Cabinet had to learn about Mr Callinan’s resignation from the media last year. He asked why Mr Kenny had consistently refused to give a straightforward account of events leading up to his departure.

Mr Kenny responded that the inquiry was the judge’s remit and that he would publish the report whenever it was completed.

The Fennelly Commission says it is preparing a draft report to circulate to affected parties. However, it also told the Irish Examiner yesterday that there was no timeline for when the report would be completed or released.

Mr Kenny pledged to publish it as soon as the final version is released to his department, which oversees the inquiry.

The inquiry is also looking at the recording of phone calls in garda stations. Its interim report was delayed due to Ian Bailey’s court action against the State, which finished on Monday.

Mr Martin yesterday claimed Mr Kenny “may have said something untrue” when he recently claimed he would be “breaking the law” if he discussed the inquiry.

“There is no law that says you can or cannot tell if you attended the inquiry again,” said Mr Martin.

It has been reported that Mr Kenny, Attorney General Máire Whelan, and Department of the Taoiseach secretary general Martin Fraser have all given evidence again due to conflicting evidence.

Any negative or critical findings about Mr Kenny’s role in the garda’s departure could have serious repercussions for the Taoiseach as well as Fine Gael.