Ministers can order gardaí to transport them to work

Government ministers have had the right to order gardaí to drive them to work events in “emergencies” since the summer of 2012, meaning other cases similar to the controversy surrounding European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy may have occurred during the Coalition’s lifetime.

Officials confirmed that the protocol was agreed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and then justice minister Alan Shatter three years ago, just months after a high-profile decision to cancel Garda drivers to free up vital crime-fighting resources.

The protocol states that, in the event of an emergency such as a car breakdown, a minister can request that gardaí take a vehicle off duty in order to drive the politician to their destination.