asked the Minister for Justice if he has received a complaint concerning a recent class 1B police duty examination; if he has investigated the matter; and, if so, with what result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Police Duty Examination.
29.
I received an anonymous complaint in relation to the matter in question at the same time as I received notice of this parliamentary question.
It is not the practice to pay heed to anonymous complaints but, in this instance, because of the publicity given to the complaint by this parliamentary question, I have had the matter investigated by the Commissioner and he has informed me that while his investigations have not been completed all the indications go to show that there is no foundation whatsoever for the complaint.
Surely the Minister is aware that a circular was issued—class IB police duty examination, 11th April, 1963? It is well known that the superintendent, who was one of the examiners, gave the examination paper, prior to the examination, to a detective sergeant at Mountjoy Station who gave the paper out to his friends, all of whom passed the examination. Surely the Minister cannot disclaim responsibility in view of the fact that this information is now available to him? Will he consider cancelling the results of this examination?
The charge made by the Deputy is the same as the complaint, to which I have referred and this complaint has been investigated by the Commissioner. So far as his investigations show at the moment, it is completely without foundation.
Is it true that every man who got the examination paper in advance of the examination from the detective-sergeant at Mountjoy station passed the examination?
It is not true.
It is true. Will the Minister give the House the results of the investigation that has been carried out into this disgraceful business?
I think it is unfair that charges like this should be made across the floor of the House. In this type of case, we must be guided by the Garda authorities whom I have asked to investigate this specific charge. The Commissioner informs me, as of now, that while his investigations have not been completed, so far as they have gone, there is no evidence whatever to show that there is any foundation in fact for what Deputy Flanagan and the anonymous complainant allege.
Will the report of this investigation be placed on the Table of the House?
It will not.
Why not?
It is an internal disciplinary matter for the Garda Síochána as a Force and so long as the report shows that this complaint is without foundation, that ends the matter. If there is any foundation whatever in the report for this charge, which as I have said seems most unlikely at this stage, appropriate disciplinary action will have to be taken; but so far as the investigation discloses there are no grounds whatever for the suggestions made.
Surely the Minister must take a serious view of the matter? An examiner, a Superintendent of the Garda Síochána, is not entitled to give out examination papers prior to the examination.
The whole gravamen of the complaint is that he did——
He did do it. There is no question about it.
The result of the investigation so far is that he did not.
Can the Minister tell us——
I cannot allow this to go any further.
The Chair realises, I am sure, the seriousness of this matter?
The Deputy has ventilated any seriousness that was in it and I cannot allow it to be further discussed.
Then I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy in the course of the afternoon.