As the Deputy will be aware, I established the Disclosures Tribunal following the passing of Resolutions by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on 16 February 2017.
My Department was consulted by the Garda Commissioner in relation to the need to ensure that the Tribunal was appropriately serviced by An Garda Síochána, with the least disruption to on-going operations. The Commissioner subsequently sought formal sanction to retain the services of a small number of individuals and this was granted by my Department, with the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Approval was also given to engage, in accordance with normal public procurement procedures, the services of a solicitor.