Recently the courts exonerated a number of gardaí from the mid-west region. They had been subjected to a seven-year investigation for being involved in practices that were commonplace in every single Garda district from one end of this country to the other. They were they only people who were prosecuted. During the course of that seven-year investigation, the gardaí were suspended, interrogated, vilified and had their names dragged through the mud. The net result of all this is a huge legal bill for the State and Garda morale in the mid-west on the floor. Does the Taoiseach think Garda management has questions to answer about this very ill-advised, partisan and heavy-handed prosecution? If so, when do we expect those answers to be forthcoming?

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