IT WAS A week when the Garda Commissioner resigned, and major inquiry into the recording of telephone calls at garda stations was launched.

The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter apologised to garda whisteblowers, while the opposition called for his resignation.

All that, and more, it’s the week of GardaGate in quotes:

We’ll discuss it at Cabinet tomorrow.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny declined to speak to reports about the whisteblowers controversy on Monday.

(Image Credit: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

In the best interests of An Garda Síochána and my family, I have decided to retire.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan announced his shock retirement on Tuesday morning…

(Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

The Government has learned that a system was in place in a large number of Garda stations whereby incoming and outgoing telephone calls were taped and recorded.

… swiftly followed by an announcement that a statutory Commission of Investigation is to look into phone calls at Garda stations being taped and recorded.

(Image Credit: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

The fish rots from the head and the rot starts with you Minister.

Independent TD Mick Wallace, who had been instrumental in bringing the penalty points controversy to light, voiced that he does not believe Minister Shatter’s position is tenable.

(Image Credit: Oireacthas.ie)

Well, you may laugh. If you were appraised of the matter, you would not.

Enda Kenny got serious when TDs laughed at the fact the Attorney General wasn’t prepared to discuss GardaGate on the phone.

(Image Credit: RTÉ.ie)

The Minister was out of the office… but they weren’t under time pressure.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan told RTÉ’s Prime Time that officials in the Department of Justice did not inform Shatter of Callinan’s letter as they had time to spare before they had to act on it.

It was never my intention to cause any upset.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter apologised to garda whisteblowers, and withdrew his remarks the they did no cooperate with garda investigations that took place in respect of their allegations.

Read previous weeks in quotes >