31st December 2002

PRESS RELEASE

GREENS CALL ON JUSTICE MINISTER TO RESPOND TO LAWLOR REMARKS

The Green Party has called on the Minister for Justice to respond to the statement by Liam Lawlor that senior Gardaí had lobbied him for promotions.

“Minister McDowell should clarify whether he or his colleagues in Government have been lobbied by Senior Gardaí for promotion” stated the Green party’s Justice Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD today.

 “If Gardaí lobbied for promotion they should be forced to resign as canvassing for promotion undermines the ethos of civil service promotion which is based on merit rather than on political lobbying. Commissioner Pat Byrne should also clarify that political lobbying for promotion is unacceptable in a modern police force.”

Former Minister Liam Lawlor stated in an RTE news interview yesterday that senior Gardaí had lobbied him for promotion during his time as a Government Minister.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe, TD    087 265 2075 or 618 3082