Vol. 534 No. 5
28 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he anticipates that arrests will take place following the return of a file by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Garda Síochána in the wake of the Carty investigation and allegations of Garda misbehaviour in the Donegal Garda division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9352/01]
35 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding allegations of corruption and malpractice involving members of the Garda in County Donegal; when he expects that these investigations will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10998/01]
45 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of arrests made in the case of the investigation into Garda malpractice in the Donegal division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9355/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 35 and 45 together.
I am informed by the Garda that the investigation conducted by an Assistant Commissioner has been concluded and a file has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Following receipt of directions from the DPP, one person has been arrested and charged to date. Further directions are awaited in respect of other aspects of the investigation. As the Deputies will appreciate, the DPP is independent in the discharge of his statutory duties, and it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment on this aspect of the matter. I am further informed by the Garda that 12 arrests have been made during the course of the investigation in question.
29 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the result of the inquiries conducted into the trips undertaken at the expense of a company (details supplied) by members of the Garda Síochána transport division; and the action taken as a consequence of these investigations. [10861/01]
179 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the result of the inquiries conducted into the trips undertaken at the expense of a company (details supplied) by members of the Garda Síochána transport division; and the action taken as a consequence of these investigations. [11123/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 179 together.
A newspaper article, published on Sunday, 11 February 2001, alleged that members of the Garda Síochána and a civilian employee at Garda Headquarters had participated in trips abroad paid for by a company which supplies tyres to the Garda Síochána. On 13 February 2001, I advised the House that the Garda Commissioner had asked a Chief Superintendent to look into the allegations. I also advised the House that I was of the view that the matter warranted an external examination and that the Secretary General of my Department, in his capacity as Accounting Officer for the Garda vote, had instructed the internal audit unit of the Department to examine the matter. Since then further allegations have been made to the Garda and my Department and the matter is now the subject of a criminal investigation which has not been completed. I should also mention that when this issue first arose the Secretary General of my Department was in contact with the Comptroller and Auditor General and he was kept updated on developments. The Comptroller and Auditor General advised my Department on 12 March 2001 that he had directed his staff to commence an audit of the procurement of tyres for the Garda Síochána from both regularity and value-for-money viewpoints. The Public Offices Commission wrote to my Department on 13 February 2001 making certain inquiries related to this matter and the relevant available information sought from the Department has been forwarded to them. I understand that the Public Offices Commission also wrote to the Garda Commissioner about the matter.
