FG call for specific terms for garda tribunal

Fine Gael justice spokesman Alan Shatter has called for the terms of reference of any tribunal into Garda conduct in Donegal to include and investigate the following:

· All communications between the Minister for Justice and the officials of his department, with An Garda Siochana.

· The manner in which the Minister, during his term of office, has exercised his political duties in relation to the Gardai under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924.

· The extent to which the Minister and officials in his department considered and addressed the complaints received about an Garda Siochana and in particular dealt with the application made to the Minister in October 1997 for the exhumation of the body of the later Richie Barron and the reasons why the Garda Siochana changed their mind.

· The manner in which the Minister complied with his constitutional duty of accountability to the Dáil for an Garda Siochana.

· The extent to which he kept the Dáil fully informed on these matters when replying to Dail questions and relevant Dáil motions.