Arrogance of commissioner highlights the need for inquiry

GARDA Commissioner Martin Callinan’s demands that the Public Accounts Committee hand over information given to it by a Garda whistleblower, on the grounds of an alleged breach of data protection, displays an incredible arrogance.

It is the latest in a long list of efforts by the commissioner to minimise and downplay the seriousness of these issues and an example of why the gardaí cannot be left to investigate themselves.

How does the Garda commissioner know what information was given to the PAC, and why did the data protection commissioner act on this assertion without investigating whether the act was in fact breached?