asked the Minister for Justice the number of times he has met the Chief Commissioner of the Garda at official level since the new Government came into office; and the date of each meeting.
Written Answers. - Garda Commissioner Meetings.
291.
First of all, I would like to state as a matter of principle that I do not accept that a Minister for Justice is under any obligation to disclose whether or how often he has met with the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána. However, on the present occasion, having regard to assertions which were made recently in the Dáil and which I have already denied, I wish to state that, apart from meetings with the Commissioner at official functions, I have met the Commissioner more than once in my own office and have had detailed discussions with him. I have kept no record of those meetings nor is there any reason why I should do so.