DETAILS of the inquiry into the role of the Garda, which was completed last month but remains secret, should be published, Fianna Fail has said.
The party yesterday called on the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, to publish the report. It contains a controversial proposal which could make a refusal to provide gardai with a blood sample for DNA testing to be treated with "comparative gravity" to the offence under investigation.
Although the report was forwarded to the Taoiseach's office at the start of this month, there has since been concern about the "comparative gravity" recommendation. Under its proposed legal changes, it would be theoretically possible for someone who refused to give a blood sample in a murder investigation to face a charge with a potential life sentence punishment.
Yesterday, the Fianna Fail justice spokesman, Mr John O'Donoghue urged the Government to publish the report. He asked: "What does it contain, that the Taoiseach fears it entering into the public arena at this time? The Government is probably refusing to publish it because they disagree with its recommendations."
Mr O'Donoghue said aspects of it had already become public, and it was "incumbent on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice to publish the report at this time".
The inquiry into the Garda by the Strategic Management Initiative group was established last summer and instructed to recommend ways to improve Garda efficiency and effectiveness.