Justice Minister must explain failure to disclose OPW sweetheart rent deal for Garda Commissioner

Justice Minister must explain failure to disclose OPW sweetheart rent deal for Garda Commissioner - The Labour Party

• OPW property provided for Garda Commissioner was not disclosed in Parliamentary Questions about remuneration details.
• Commisisoner was accounting officer for An Garda Síochána while it paid his rent.

Labour Justice spokesperson Alan Kelly and Labour PAC member Eoghan Kenny have called on the Minister for Justice to explain why he and his Department kept secret a sweetheart rental agreement for the previous Garda Commissioner and refused to disclose it in Dáil Questions.

It follows a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday where the information was disclosed to Labour PAC member Deputy Eoghan Kenny by the OPW.

Deputy Kelly said:

“The Minister for Justice needs to explain why his Department constantly refused to reveal that they were paying the former Garda Commissioner’s rent. I have Parliamentary Questions that were answered by Jim O’Callaghan asking about the remuneration package for the Commissioner and he refused to reveal this.

“This is not acceptable. A Minister has an obligation to answer parliamentary questions candidly and comprehensively. This did not happen. Instead this was hidden until my colleague Eoghan Kenny TD followed up on my questions in the Public Accounts Committee with the OPW.

“At the PAC on Thursday, the OPW revealed that €400,000 was spent on the house on the Spa Road in the Phoenix Park prior to the Commissioner taking up residence. They also revealed that An Garda Siochána paid the rent of €21,000 a year for this property to the OPW from 2017/8 but it was never indexed from there on and stayed the same until the Commissioner left his role.

“This is crazy in itself as the rents of everyone else across the country multiplied, but what is even more unacceptable is that An Garda Siochána gave the Commissioner a house rent free for over seven years. The Commissioner was the accounting officer for the Gardaí and as such was signing off on his own rent being paid, and never revealed this.

“Why did they hide this? Why wasn’t this known while he served in the role? Why did the taxpayers pay his rent while he was on over €250,000 a year?

“Why did Minister O’Callaghan feel it necessary to continue to hide this and crucially, what else is being hidden by his Department?

“The Minister needs to make a public statement on this immediately on why he hid it and why he did not reveal this to the Dail when asked? If TDs cannot rely on Dáil questions to get accurate responses and information from a Minister and his Department it raises serious questions account transparency and accountability.”

Deputy Eoghan Kenny who uncovered the secret rent payments at the Public Accounts committee on Thursday said:

“There still has not been a full explanation from the Minister for Justice about this sweetheart deal. It is extraordinary that while the Commissioner was the accounting officer for An Garda Síochána the force was paying his rent.

“The Minister for Justice should explain who approved this arrangement, what governance was in place and why this information was kept secret and not revealed in Parliamentary Questions.

“What message does it sent to young people getting screwed by rising rents when a below market deal is made for the most senior police officer in the state, and his employer picks up the tab for an exclusive house in the Phoenix Park?

“This also raises serious questions about the use of OPW property for public figures and what other sweetheart deals may exist that are undeclared. Is the government using the perk of secure and subsidised state accommodation to attract applicants for other roles either within An Garda Síochána or elsewhere in the public service?”

ENDS

For Written Answer on: 08/10/2025. Question Number(s): 267 Question Reference(s): 54000/25. Department: Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Asked by: Alan Kelly T.D.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Justice; Home Affairs and Migration for a full breakdown of all remuneration details that ever existed or were given to the current Commissioner of An Garda Síochána or his predecessor.

REPLY

The salary for the Garda Commissioner role, with effect from 1 August 2025, is €301,744 (non-PPC)/€317,657 (PPC). This salary reflects the size and unique complexity of leading An Garda Síochána, an organisation of over 18,000 employees, including lead responsibility for the security of the State.

The current Garda Commissioner is remunerated in line with the above pay point as was his predecessor. The remuneration was agreed by Government for the 2018 Garda Commissioner competition, when the post was advertised with a salary of €250,000 (PPC).  The current figure arises from the application of public service pay increases in the interim; there has not been any other change to the remuneration mid contract.

For Written Answer on: 23/09/2025. Question Number(s): 232 Question Reference(s): 49696/25. Department: Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Asked by: Alan Kelly T.D.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure; Infrastructure; Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the properties owned by the State on Spa Road in the Phoenix Park, Dublin 8; and if he will provide details and uses of all buildings on that road that are owned by the State.

REPLY

There are two State owned residential properties on the Spa Road in the Phoenix Park, Dublin 8. Both properties were recently vacated and their future use, including any necessary remedial works,  is under consideration.

For Written Answer on : 30/09/2025. Question Number(s): 365 Question Reference(s): 52104/25. Department: Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

Asked by: Alan Kelly T.D.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure; Infrastructure; Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 23 September 2025, the purpose for which the two properties owned by the State (details supplied) were used, in each year from 2010 to 23 September 2025. (Details Supplied) on Spa Road in the Phoenix Park, Dublin 8.

REPLY

The purpose for which the two State owned properties on Spa Road in the Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 were used from 2010 to September 2025 is as follows:

Property 1 was vacant from 2010 to 2016. It was under refurbishment during 2017 and 2018 and was used for residential purposes from 2018 to 2025.

Property 2 was used for residential purposes from 2010 to 2024.  It has been vacant since 2024 and is in need of refurbishment.