Kelly calls on Taoiseach to correct Dáil record again regarding McCabe controversy
Deputy Alan Kelly has called on the Taoiseach to correct the Dáil record regarding the Maurice McCabe controversy.
Deputy Kelly said:
“I am not satisfied that the Dáil received accurate information from the Taoiseach on two occasions last week regarding the timelines of when the Department of Justice was made aware of the then Garda Commissioner’s legal strategy surrounding Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
“The Taoiseach told the Dáil twice last week that the legal strategy of the then Garda Commissioner was made known to the Department of Justice after the cross-examination of Maurice McCabe took place.
“Yesterday, the Tánaiste circulated an email to the Dáil stating that she was made aware of the legal strategy ‘ in a general way’ on May 15th 2015. Given that the cross-examination of Maurice McCabe took place on May 18th 2015, it is very clear that the Tánaiste was made aware of the legal strategy before the cross-examination of Sgt McCabe took place.
“How could the former Minister for Justice and the Department of Justice have known about the legal strategy on May 15th after the ‘cross examination’ of Maurice McCabe given the fact that the ‘cross examination’ didn’t actually happen until May 18th?
“It is now vital that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to come into the Dáil and correct the record and give a full account of what happened.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Question submitted by Deputy Kelly to An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
To ask the Taoiseach why during Leaders Questions on both November 14th & November 15th he said on two occasions that the Department of Justice was told about the legal strategy of the then Garda Commissioner at the O’Higgins Commission ‘after the cross examination had taken place’ of Sgt Maurice McCabe (Nov 14th) and ‘after the cross examination had already taken place’ of Sgt Maurice McCabe (Nov 15th) given that this ‘cross examination’ actually took place on May 18th 2015 and the former Minister for Justice told the house on 21/11/17 that she only found out about the legal strategy in ‘general terms’ through an email on May 15th 2015, the same day Maurice McCabe became aware of the legal strategy of the then Commissioner. So how could the former Minister for Justice and the Department of Justice have known about the legal strategy on May 15th after the ‘cross examination’ of Maurice McCabe given the fact that the ‘cross examination’ didn’t actually happen until May 18th?