Confidence conundrum: We’ve reached a point where something has to give
THERE’S no easy answer as to what to do about a problem like Nóirín O’Sullivan – but doing nothing is no longer an option.
Last week, she held a private 90-minute meeting with the new Taoiseach during which she was effectively told to keep up the good work.
While both sides agreed to keep the content of the meeting private, it is known that Leo Varadkar advised her to “take on” elements within An Garda Síochána who are resistant to change.
He assured the embattled police chief she has the backing of his Government.
“We support the job she is doing, which is a very difficult job. She has to bring about culture change in the Garda, which is the hardest thing to do in an institution,” Mr Varadkar said afterwards.
And sure enough when the long-awaited but much leaked report of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was published on Tuesday, a series of ministers expressed “full confidence”.
None seemed particularly convincing but for whatever reason the Cabinet, including the independent members, have decided Ms O’Sullivan would be more of a liability outside the tent than she is inside it.
Last March, the then attorney general warned ministers they had to show a united front on the issue. If even one broke ranks and publicly criticised Ms O’Sullivan it could be seen as constructive dismissal.
Martin Fraser, the country’s most senior civil servant, has told ministers Ms O’Sullivan was “far ahead” of the other applications for the €180,000-a-year job in 2014.
Four months on and the Taoiseach has changed but the Government line hasn’t. The policy is to utter the phrase “full confidence” and then get away from the microphone as quickly as possible. Privately a number of ministers have expressed doubts about how much longer this approach can continue, but it is being facilitated by Fianna Fáil.
Micheál Martin’s party has a similar tactic, except its phrase is “diminishing confidence”. At the same time it believes Ms O’Sullivan should consider her position.
After the PAC report
landed, all the main parties rushed to give their views. Sinn Féin said the Commissioner had “effectively signed her resignation letter” by not immediately alerting the C&AG to irregularities in Templemore. Labour said she “failed to act and her position is now untenable”.
But Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan didn’t even mention the Commissioner in his press release, while Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan “noted” the publication.
It has reached the point where something has to give.
Either the “full confidence” line is untenable and the rug has to be pulled from under Ms O’Sullivan. Or else the “diminishing confidence” line is untenable and Fianna Fáil should let her get on with the job.
The longer people spend focusing on one person the more room there is for scandals such Templemore to go unresolved.