THE Progressive Democrats have sharply criticised a statement issued by Garda Headquarters yesterday which called for an end to public discussion of its Urlingford drugs operation.
The Garda said lives were at risk and an international investigation had been seriously damaged by "non constructive criticism, irresponsible reporting by some people in the media, and political point scoring".
The Progressive Democrats spokeswoman on justice, Ms Liz O'Donnell TD, said last night that the Garda had produced "a very one dimensional comment on concerns raised by deputies of three political parties." She added that the force and the Government "appear to resent any reaction other than uncritical admiration".
The Government will come under renewed pressure this week to explain the Garda operation, in which £130 million worth of cannabis was brought into the State last November. The cannabis was then "seized" by the Garda at Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, as part of what the Government called a highly successful operation.
The statement issued from Garda Headquarters yesterday said it was "very disquieting to have publicly debated, on a daily basis, the intricacies of Garda operations."
Although the Garda statement did not confirm or deny that the Urlingford drugs were imported by the Garda, it stressed: "No breaches of procedure or legislation occurred."
Ms O'Donnell said no one had suggested that details of current operations should be revealed in public. But she added: "This does not imply that Garda actions can never be the subject of democratic debate or media comment.
"In the particular instance of the Urlingford operation, gardai themselves have engaged in considerable `off the record' briefings designed to influence media coverage and attitudes. These briefings and other events led. to ministerial statements suggesting that a major operation had been successfully carried out. The true position appears at least to be a great deal more complicated."
She said it was "not a satisfactory response to such questions merely to allege that their being raised at all could have appalling consequences.
"This is especially the case when Garda sources themselves have anonymously raised questions about the security of the operation."
The Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, is to be asked in the Dail whether the Garda told Customs that the drugs were being imported, as part of a "sting" aimed at catching some of the State's biggest drug dealers.
Opposition deputies are also expected to focus on the financing of the operation, described by a Fine Gael MEP as a "tragedy" and a "cock up".
In the Dail last week Mrs Owen indicated that the importing, of the drugs was a Garda operation. She said the importation "was an operational decision and did not involve any politicians."
She later sought to clarify her remarks, telling reporters she had not meant to admit the operation was a "sting".
Asked about the authorisation of the operations, the Minister said that in operational matters the question of ministerial authority did not arise. She also stressed that the drugs were not paid for by the taxpayer.
The Progressive Democrats' have tabled a series of questions' for reply tomorrow by Mr Quinn who is responsible through Revenue Commissioners for the Customs Service.
He is to be asked whether Customs knew of any Garda plan to import cannabis in October or November last year, whether Customs were involved in the operation, and if the drugs which were brought in were liable to seizure by Customs officers.
No criminals were charged when the drugs were originally brought into the State. Garda sources claimed leaks to the media had caused the operation to be ended prematurely, and suggested the leaks had come from the Customs Service.
However, the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Mr Cathal Mac Domhnaill, said last week that the Customs had no involvement in the consignment of cannabis until after it had arrived at Urlingford.
He also said that he had the assurance of the Garda Commissioner, through the secretary of the Department of Justice, that the Garda did not believe the operation had been jeopardised because of "leaks to the media" by Customs officers.
Last Friday the Fine Gael MEP, Mr John Cushnahan, told the party's ard fheis that the Urlingford operation was a debacle.