Regarding recent media reports, Commissioner O’Sullivan would like to make it clear that she was not privy to nor approved of any action designed to target any Garda employee who may have made a protected disclosure and would condemn any such action.
It would be inappropriate for An Garda Síochána to comment on the specifics of any protected disclosure.
In order to maintain public confidence in An Garda Síochána, we are anxious that the full content of the disclosures giving rise to the commentary be comprehensively examined at the earliest opportunity.
The Commissioner wishes to re-iterates that any employees in An Garda Síochána who bring forward any concerns or issues they might have will be taken seriously and the matters examined.
For the record, the Executive Director, Human Resources and People Development, An Garda Síochána is responsible amongst other matters for managing the welfare of all employees. The Executive Director reports any such issues and concerns in this regard to his line manager. As necessary, such matters are then brought to the attention of the Commissioner.
At no stage did the Executive Director, Human Resources and People Development, report to the Minister for Justice. To state or infer otherwise is incorrect. The preparation of reports for the Minister for Justice under Section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act is a matter for the Garda Commissioner only.
