I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 to 539, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, some aspects of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation form part of the remit of the Disclosures Tribunal and therefore I am limited in what I can say.
However, it would of course have been entirely inappropriate for anyone to have sought to interfere in any way with the work of the Commission of Investigation. The Deputy will appreciate that it was solely a matter for the parties to the Commission to decide what legal approach to take to the work of the Commission, taking into account the legal advice available to them.
In the circumstances, the Department would have had no role in determining the approach to be taken by the Garda Commissioner to the Commission in question.
Accordingly, there was no question of the Department seeking to interfere in any way with, or to have any say in determining, that approach by the Garda Commissioner.