The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice has said it would not be right for anyone to rush to judgement regarding the recent garda whistleblower allegations.
Protected disclosures have reportedly been made by two gardaí who are said to have claimed a campaign to discredit a whistleblower had been sanctioned by An Garda Síochána leadership.
Frances Fitzgerald told the Dáil this afternoon that it would offend all the principles of fairness for conclusions to be drawn on the basis of claims against people which have not been properly tested or where people who have made claims against them have not had a chance to tell their side of the story.
She said she could not comment on the information given to her under protected disclosures.
Responding to Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, Ms Fitzgerald said Ms McDonald appeared to think that the protection of the law and the presumption of innocence could be done selectively.
Ms Fitzgerald said she had to question TDs putting information in the House knowing she could not respond in detail due to the clear laws in relation to protected disclosures.
Ms McDonald also asked if Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan will be stepping aside. Ms Fitzgerald said no findings of wrongdoings had been found against the Garda Commissioner and she is entitled to full confidence.
Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue asked if reports today that the two complainants would not be willing to participate in an investigation if the Garda Commissioner remains in place are correct.
He also asked about reports that a senior garda officer is going to seek an inquiry in relation to garda management and if the minister has been informed of that and what action she has taken.
Ms Fitzgerald said she has seen the reports in the media but she has put the facts on the record of the House.
She said she received the Protected Disclosure Notices on Monday and she has not made a decision in relation to the precise process that will be followed and it is being considered.
Independents4Change TD Mick Wallace told the Dáil that he and his colleague Clare Daly have met the two gardaí who made the protected disclosures to Ms Fitzgerald.
He said An Garda Síochána is in turmoil and accused the Garda Commissioner of promoting a ring around her. He said she could not be left in the position.
Ms Fitzgerald said due process is important and the law should be used carefully, adding that she did not believe in action before evidence.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin has said that a statutory inquiry into the whistleblower controversy is the only process that can be embarked on "so that everyone will be required to present the facts as they know them".
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Howlin said a lot of evidence is coming out that the culture within the gardaí has not changed.
Saying it was a critical moment for An Garda Síochána, he added: "It is clear to me that there were whistleblowers who didn't feel that An Garda Síochana was a comfortable place for them.
"That is not acceptable. We need to find out who was involved in creating that discomfort."
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