The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has declined to comment on the arrest of a Garda Superintendent on suspicion of drink-driving in Galway last night.
Speaking in Kilkenny this afternoon, Mr McDowell said he does not comment on individual arrests or individual cases, adding that it would be improper for him to do so, regardless of who was arrested.
He did say that the public looks to An Garda Síochána to administer the law impartially, adding that he believed they do this.
Superintendent Jim Fitzgerald, who is in charge of a Regional Traffic Division, was driving an official unmarked garda car at the time of his arrest.
He was taken to Loughrea Garda Station after he was reported by a member of the public, but refused to take a breathalyser test.
He was released, but it is understood that proceedings will be taken against him.
Under the new Road Traffic Legislation refusing to take a test for drink-driving carries a disqualification of three years off the road.
