Committee critical of Justice Department's acting chief

Oireachtas members have severely criticised the acting chief of the Department of Justice for insisting the department had “fully complied” with initial discovery orders issued by the Charleton Tribunal.

Deputies and senators attached to the all-party justice committee told acting secretary general Oonagh McPhillips that the department could not have fully complied with the orders, given they have subsequently had to hand over emails and other material found following parliamentary questions, media queries, and a Taoiseach-ordered trawl.

In a robust questioning session, numerous committee members said they found it incredible the emails could not have been discovered at the time of the discovery orders, given only a handful of senior civil servants were involved.