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Dún Laoghaire, Environment, Justice and Latest Press Releases

14 September 2005

Greens condemn McDowell for failing to remove Donegal Gardaí. 

The Green Party has called on Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to take immediate action on foot of confirmation that the five Donegal-based Gardaí, criticised in the June 

Morris Tribunal Report have not been removed from the Donegal area as promised by Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy. 

Green Party Justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said today that, "This is further evidence that Noel Conroy is unfit to serve as Garda Commissioner and I once again call for his resignation. The fact that he is unable to carry through his own commitment to transfer these Gardaí is in itself a complete condemnation of the Commissioner's competence." 

"The five Gardaí in question were, according to Commissioner Conroy, due to be transferred to Dublin in June in the interest of both improving the public perception of the force, and boosting flagging morale within An Garda Síochána. It is now September and not one of the five is on active duty in Dublin." 

"It is simply not good enough that the Minister for Justice has refused to comment on this situation. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Garda Commissioner is now required to account fully to the Minister on all aspects of his functions. Michael McDowell must now do what he should have done some time ago and demand that Commissioner Conroy account for his actions. The Minister is compelled to take action and ensure that this situation is remedied and the Gardaí in questioned are transferred as soon as possible," concluded Deputy Cuffe.