Sinn Féin turns up pressure on Flanagan

SINN Féin is refusing to rule out a motion of no confidence in Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan for his role in the debacle that almost led to the collapse of the Government.

The minister remains under pressure for failing to take action after being told an email of significance to the Charleton Tribunal was found in the Department of Justice.

In the Dáil, Independent TD Catherine Connolly questioned why the Department of Justice had not acted on the 2014 Toland Report which identified a secretive culture.

“Had those recommendations been implemented, we would not be in the mess that we are in today,” she said.

Mr Flanagan said the majority of proposals in the report “are now in an advanced course of implementation.

“I assure Deputy Connolly and the house that every effort will be made within the timeframe to ensure the full implementation of the Toland recommendations, but having regard to the events of this week and the last two weeks, we are looking at Toland plus,” he said.

Sinn Féin yesterday placed a motion before the Dáil seeking to change the terms of reference of the Charleton Tribunal, which is looking into an alleged smear campaign against Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe. The new terms would include the Justice Minister.

However, the motion is likely to fail as it will be opposed by both Fianna Fáil and the Government.

Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan said: “If we are going to change terms of reference, we should do so in consultation with the chairman of the tribunal.

“The last thing we want to do is to stick our size-13 foot into terms of reference which seem to be operating efficiently until a group of politicians get together and say they have a better idea.”