Fine Gael's justice spokesman called in the Dail for the dismissal of gardai allegedly involved in the obstruction of a drink-driving case.
Mr Jim Higgins said that gardai at a checkpoint stopped and turned back a doctor who was travelling from Slane, Co Meath, to Dundalk Garda station to take a blood-urine sample from a businessman arrested for drink-driving.
Mr Higgins said the incident involved "members of the Garda Siochana obstructing other members of the Garda Siochana in the execution of their duties".
It happened more than five weeks ago, on September 13th, and the case should have been "wrapped up in 48 hours", he said during Question Time in the Dail. "But we have a five-week long, protracted, inconclusive inquiry which is ongoing and no firm action has been taken."
Ms Mary Wallace, Minister of State for Justice, said she was "extremely concerned" about the case, which she described as a "quite serious matter".
Outlining the case, Mr Higgins said that the businessman was arrested and brought to Dundalk Garda station at about 1.30 a.m. A doctor was called but was obstructed by a Garda checkpoint. He was turned back on the road, "asked to turn off his mobile phone and not to respond until 4 o'clock and then to ring Dundalk Garda Station and pretend that he had had a puncture".
Mr Higgins said the doctor then "eventually had to get a Garda escort to Dundalk station" to obtain the sample.