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Updated 8.45pm
JUSTICE MINISTER ALAN Shatter was grilled by TDs and Senators over the ongoing GSOC surveillance controversy today – and said that his only interest “is that we get at the truth”.
He was speaking before the Oireachtas Public Service Oversight and Petitions Committee, a day after telling the Dáil last night that there is “no evidence at all” of the offices of the Garda Ombudsman Commission having been placed under surveillance.
He also said that he will give the committee a document outlining the differences between the Verrimus report and the subsequent peer review by RITS.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD said in the Dáil this evening that he is calling for a full, independent inquiry into the GSOC controversy.
As one of those involved in negotiating a new dispensation for policing in the north – and I don’t wish to compare the old Gardaí with the RUC, because that is not the case – I have to say that police investigating police is unacceptable.
This afternoon, Minister Shatter asserted that he has “been the subject of political attack on this issue”, and that he has been criticised for being “too close” to the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan.
He also told the committee that he thinks it is “absolutely right” that GSOC had an appropriate security firm undertake a security sweep, and check their office to ensure that their systems are secure.
Asked if he authorised surveillance of GSOC, Shatter said: “Of course not.” Later, he said that this suggestion was in the realms of “total fantasy”.
It emerged that he had not asked the Garda Commissioner about if surveillance had taken place, and the Minister said he had not asked the Defence Forces had they been bugging GSOC because there is ‘no evidence’ that they had.
Judicial review
Much of the questioning centred on the judicial review into the situation, which Shatter said that the Terms of Reference will be finalised tonight.
He explained that they are being drawn up by the Attorney General and will be agreed on by Cabinet.
He told the committee that his “only interest is that we get at the truth”, and that he tells the truth based on the information that he is given.
Leak
According to Minister Shatter, the chair of GSOC expressed concerns to him about the fact there was a leak of information to the Sunday Times.
He said that GSOC are investigating the leak internally, and he understands they have sought legal advice, although he has not received a written brief on this.
It is a very serious issue for GSOC.
Phone signal
On the issue of a signal that was picked up on a phone in the GSOC offices by Verrimus, Shatter said that the RITS report he received has a theory on this.
Shatter said that RITS theorised that a signal that was picked up wasn’t the finding of an external phone call.
He said that RITS suggested that when you sent a signal down a phone of this nature – a phone used for conference calls – there is apparently a phone console at the reception area in GSOC which the phone receptionists would use to distribute calls around the office.
The RITS theory is that what happened was the signal went down the phone, and to the console, causing a reaction where the signal bounced back up and caused the phone to ring, said Shatter.
Wifi anomalies
Shatter raised the issue of anomalies in the wifi system at GSOC’s offices that there flagged in the report from Verrimus.
He said that he does think that perhaps in “anxiety”, that members of GSOC “may have prematurely commenced that investigation” into possible garda involvement into this.
He said that “at that particular time” he wasn’t aware of what it was that indicated garda involvement of any nature, and he is still not aware.
I thought it would have been reasonable before they commenced investigating to have them take that time and see can something identified.
The Minister also spoke on the issue of not mentioning the IMSI catcher in the Dáil. He has been advised that this equipment is available online, and is not just technology that can be acquired by governments.
When asked if IMSI technology could be used for purposes other than surveillance, Minister Shatter said that this is beyond his technical knowledge.
He also noted that RITS said in their report that it “may not be IMSI technology at all” and that instead what was detected may be a booster system with regard to telephone networks.
He said that when speaking in the Dail on the issue, he summarised the threats, the conclusion of GSOC in relation to them, and the ultimate outcome of GSOC’s investigation. The IMSI catcher was not mentioned.
“I thought that was the correct and appropriate way to proceed, and it was not in my interest in any shape or form to mislead anyone. Why would I do so?” he said.
Second opinion
Shatter said that he is not aware of GSOC seeking additional resources or a second opinion on the issue.
He said that his department would supply extra resources if GSOC needed extra expertise in areas relevant to this situation.
The Minister said that there were a lot of “could have beens” around who could have been involved with the anomalies picked up in the report.
But it “remains a mystery” to him as to why the decision was taken to investigate the gardaí as a result of the report.
Shatter said that there was some misunderstanding around why the Verrimus sweep took place.
He told the committee that there seemed to be a misunderstanding by two employees that GSOC was under surveillance and that their security system had already been breached.
“This wasn’t true,” he pointed out, but said that this misunderstanding “fed into the Verrimus report”.
He said Simon O’Brien, chairman of GSOC, believed the sweep was a general security sweep, but that Verrimus “were led to believe when they commenced that work that there was already a breach of security in GSOC when in fact there hadn’t been”.
Garda confidential recipient
In a separate development today, Shatter today sacked the Garda confidential recipient Oliver Connolly over controversial comments he is alleged to have made in a conversation with a garda whistleblower.
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If Labour had any sense or a tiny bit of decency left they would pull out of Government over this. However there all in there right now hoping to not rock the boat too much because there all thinking about those lovely pensions that’s coming to them after five years…
They’ll wait until the writing on the wall is in bigger letters, like they did with Albert Reynolds.
David, politics is a game where personal gain is to be had and orders to be followed. They laugh at the ignorance of people who think that the politicians are somehow afraid of elections. They play their part whether they’re in leadership or opposition.
David… Seriously? Pull out over this?
We’d have more governments than Italy if the junior coalition party pulled out of every government because of a fracas like this.
My dog just got up and left the room when this stream came on. He might be on to something
The truth will out Mr Shatter as the lies are nailed
Did the journal take down the link?
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/live-flashplayer/committeeroom3/
The truth? He couldn’t handle the truth!
The truth is my stomach turned when I saw Wallace half asleep with the dopey head on him and a feather ear ring. That’s what’s looking after our interests god help us…
Add ” not” to Shatter’s statement.
sure we’re no fcuking better in fairness, we watch everything unfold online week in week out and what tangible resistence is there against the whole range of corruption exposed over the last 4 or 5 years alone???
Let the lies commence.
A politician lie? No, no and no.
Let the untruths commence.
Clare Daly, Luke Flanagan, Mick Wallace all get to question the almighty Shatter in committee chaired by Sinn Fein. How will he contain his arrogance and anger being questioned by what he looks on a insects………….Should be good.
My dear people, Minister Shatter would not lie! The precise correlation between the information he communicates and the facts insofar as they can be determined and demonstrated may be such as to cause epistemological problems of sufficient magnitude as to lay upon the logical and semantic resources of the English language a heavier burden than they can reasonably be expected to bear.
But he would never lie!
What he said
Good thing everyone is keeping an open mind.
Who will get the rise out of him ……RBB, Clare Daly, Wallace or will it be Ross. He is bound to snap at someone !!
You took the words out of my mouth amphraoi
Amphroaí Ó hAipilbí ………I’d say Sir Humphrey is only trotting after Shatter in regard to purposely incomprehensible answers !
V good
Who is sonyvai023 ??….ans: somebody with not enough guts to put their name and face to their comments……. and as you mention tax evader I assume you are including Mr Shatter and his party who are also guilty of same crime as Wallace.
Aww I thought this was your genius at work, then realised you copied and pasted.
Good parody account, but slightly disappointing. Massive fan of YM too :)
That was at Amphroai by the way..
He just snapped under questioning from Clare Daly………Took longer than I thought !!
Thank you Mr. Bohan. I must crave your indulgence, as I am afraid that any semblance of originality is looked upon most sternly, and with great suspicion, in Her Majesty’s Civil Service.
Nevertheless, I am nothing if not a pioneering soul, and will endeavour forthwith to forage deeper into the depths of my creativity.
Me Shatter – it’s the truth that has finally found you out my Sonny Boy – now Resign – Yourself and your embarrassment of a Government please ?
Just saw this now Amphraoi, well played Sir, very well played, I look forward to more of the same.
If he talks about the great job our Garda do AGAIN. I will be sick. The politicians, media, councillors, senators are always saying how great our Garda are. Even the Garda must be sick of it. Our Garda are under resources and are not able to provide a decent service. It is a similar story in the UK. All the spin and report after report at huge expense to tell us how great the police or Garda are. I have never heard anybody other than the above mentioned say how good our Garda are. They are just like every other government agency they have problems like the rest of us and wish they could do more. What is happening in our country right now demonstrates a different story, old vulnerable people being beaten up and robber every week , murders every week, who in Ireland is not a victim of some sort of crime? Just like UK in so many ways yet the media are complicit and especially the TV shows who keep talking about how great the Garda are. Ask a Garda in the beat how great he or she thinks they are.
“who in Ireland is not a victim of some sort of crime?” Well most have not been according to the CSO statistics which show crime falling in many categories. But why let the facts stand in the way of a good rant?
They are not under resourced, they have excellent bugging equipment
@john, lies, dammed lies and statistics http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-commissioner-responds-to-massage-crime-statistic-claims-29231745.html
A Sociology of Ireland by Tovey et al. points out the serious crime figures in Ireland are around 25% of England’s, Wales’s or Denmark’s, and is 30% of the EU average.
Although, it should be noted these are crimes reported and if crimes committed by the Church were included, that figure may not be so rosy.
Ireland cannot be compared to these statistics/countries in the EU as the population sizes arent near the same scales… Crime figures are far too high for a tiny country!
Those figures were calculated by the number of crimes per 100,000 of the population of a country and then getting a percentage by comparing the figure to the entire population of the country.
However, the book mentioned was published in 2003 and figures have certainly changed in the last five years.
Quick somebody think of a drinking game
Every time Shatter says the word “Anomalies” take the tiniest sip of beer otherwise we will all be ossified.
Every time shatter lies u take a shot (please note: this game might become very expensive within minutes).
Lads I could sponsor you! Quiet day here in the shop….
Shhhhhuuurpp ..hic ….. I feckn luv youse Shalan Atter . !
That Shatter bugs me
Does it ever feel like nobody listens to you
Who would thrust Alan Shatter ?
Enda Kenny for one……….
A majority of his constituents…
Excellent Paul!!! And probably the commissioner too….eeeeewballs
James,
In 2002 Shatter lost his seat. I’m confident of a repeat.
Shatter is just going to waffle non stop! I have been listening intently. The guy is saying nothing.
Shatter is a master,
The only thing working against the committee is time and Shatter can suck that up like damp to silica
SHUT SHATTER UP!!!!! HE TALKING AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AND AGAIN ABOUT NOTHING.
IT MAY BE TIME TO ACTUALLY ABOLISH THE ENTIRE DAIL. BUNCH OF DOPES.
It’s probably not that difficult but Shatter is making Ó Snodaigh look even more stupid than normal!
What a bullshit artist , actually the entire cabinet are bullshit artists. Sick to death of this country. Nothing ever, or will ever change. We as a people just accept everything.. It upsets me so much. Now they are going door to door again for votes, blows my mind.
These liars in charge are responsible partially whenever a woman is raped, a pensioner is beaten for their few quid etc. the corruption of law at the higher levels profoundly affects the attitude towards others at every level of society. If something bad happened to either one of those fcuks I would personally celebrate
A more disingenuous minister I haven’t seen in a long time.
I am at a loss to know how he can say the gsoc had no “definitive” case of a security breach …. Yet he says now that they definitely had no breach. So let’s see his evidence for his “definitive” case.
Really shatter puts me in mind of Chris Christie in NJ. Basically a bully. And by the looks of the evidence today his cohorts seem to pass along the menacing comments ( ” if shatter thinks you are going after him you are finished ” ).
Hopefully both Shatter and Christie will be held to account soon.
It’s time to Shaft Shatter…..
He’s a liar and I’ll never believe another word he says. And where’s Enda Kenny the spineless Git.
Why would Enda Kenny be called before a Dail Committee to answer questions on a matter than was under the remit of a different Minister? You do know that is why we have ministers?
Verrimus “were led to believe when they commenced that work (sweep) that there was already a breach of security in GSOC when in fact there hadn’t been”, according to Alan Shatter. The reality is that when Verrimus was called in the security firm stumbled upon the “tail end of a covert operation”. The reality is that Mr. Shatter is lying knowing that Verrimus will not be able (allowed) to respond in tomorrows paper. Fascist Ireland is alive and well.
The great line in tinker tailor soldier (tv series )
“Beware the dew dew man”
Wouldn’t know what the truth was if it jumped up & bit him on the ass!
Collette, he knows the truth, thats for sure.
shatter your commissioner summed it up perfectly ‘your pigeon has come home to roost’ only problem is shatter will not resign as he supported kenny in the upheaval and politicians in ireland have no understanding or concept of accountabilty and resiging….be interesting what rent a quote gilmore says will he do a quinn and spring and go to kenny and utter the words reynolds got we want a head….
its an art form,putting lots of words together and making numerous sentences but not actually saying one single thing !!!
they just talk and talk in monotonous tones and say nothing of substance,i would dearly love to ask him questions,the more simple the better and make him answer with nice short concise sentences
this droning on for hours is evasion by boredom,jesus christ i hate politicians !
Complex issues are not amenable to simplistic questions and answers. If you want that kind of analysis then the headlines in the tabloids will probably satisfy you. It appears that people are unwilling to put a bit of effort and brain power into attempting to understanding all aspects of a multifaceted issue. I think Minister Shatter in his answers to the dail committee gave very precise and comprehensive answers to all questions. I did not find his answers evasive. I was impressed by his patience in answering the same questions time and time again because some of the questioners were simply interested in getting their faces on camera. I hope Minister Shatter has revealed everything pertinent to the current controversy. The appointment of a Judge, with all the resources and technical support he needs, to investigate all aspects of the possible bugging of GSOC is a good decision.
fair play for having this up
I asked a question earlier which has been deleted by the journal :
Can any Garda on here or anyone else explain why under Shatters watch the Garda Unit “Crime and Security” is investigating new Irish democratic Political parties with absolutely no background in crime or paramilitary organisations. This was mentioned in the Sunday Times on the double centre page.
Because they can.
Irish citizens are denied human or legal or property rights.
Sole recourse which is through the Courts, is available only to the very wealthy.
With the exception of criminals and citizens accused of criminality . Criminals have free legal aid, protection of their human rights and property righrs through the Irish Courts.
Justice for law abiding citizens must be bought or if poor then try E C H R. Last ditch European protection or take extraordinary measures.
Jesus Christ…that’s scary !
Let the waffling start….is better….a very very very long piece of waffling live on TV.
He has to go. Simples
Shatter keeps asking what motivation could he possibly have for wanting to mislead the Dail. It’s a good question, Mr. Shatter.
Too many years in politics turns you into a moron.
Vice versa too many morons go into politics (was in school with junior minister), catch 22
What a weak committee this is. Shatter is playing with them.
I wonder is this about the Fr. Molloy case ? I mean two people were murdered by a professional assassin and both previously viewed files which were stolen from Garda Headquarters and were specifically about Fr. Molloy …….one of the persons murdered was told that “she was walking in very thin ice” investigating the Fr. Molloy case.
Getting ‘at’ the truth means altering it. What is needed is the truth.
Non sense…..
Or your version of the truth-more to the point!!..
Thank you Chairman!
So, we’ll have an investigation conducted in secret, in which no one can be (a) compelled to testify or (b) prosecuted for giving false testimony.
Shatter has set it up so that the original independent findings will be pitted against a Government-sponsored “peer review” by Rits. The judge will conclude that there’s no way for him/her to determine which “expert” testimony is correct.
And the outcome will be a much-redacted report that we probably won’t be allowed to see anyway.
And this just guy is the minister for both “justice” and “defence”?
I’m actually past caring whether the place was bugged or not. I’ve just no confidence in Shatter.
Shatter!!!
Daly rattled his cage
Shatter should be asked, if in the event of him been found to have arranged this bugging, he would be willing to retire and forego his pensions.
The words Truth and Shatter should never be spoken in the same sentence,he is little more than a schoolyard Bully and as for Callinane???Whose head will roll first,OOOOps I shouldn’t have dared say that by the morning Shatter will have a hit man after me how dare I.
can wait for the Shatter film to come out ,
I believes its called “THE LION C…T”
“All I want for Christmas is the truth”.
Dandahan4.com
Spin and then once more .
A hole: dig and then many times more
Alan’s yer only man.
The merc is stuffed…with crony shovels.
Keep secret my Summer hols destination
My house was attacked
Security dictates secret hols in ………
Openess and transparency,
Democratic accountability,huh.
Shatter: ‘GSOC did not believe they were under surveillance when sweep ordered http://shar.es/FpGnz
REALLY???
*cough*
have your say