A number of Donegal-based gardaí transferred to Dublin following criticism by the Morris Tribunal will have no dealings with the public, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell, has said.
The five members, all of whom are of garda rank, are to be transferred from their stations in Donegal to postings in Dublin from June 24th.
"I understand from the commissioner that they will be given positions which will not involve them having interaction with members of the public," Mr McDowell told The Irish Times.
The transfer order should not be taken as a signal that they would escape either Garda disciplinary action, or possible prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Minister declared.
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy is addressing the disciplinary questions raised by the Morris tribunal "carefully and in accordance with due process and the legal advice available to him.
"Nobody should infer from the fact that people are transferred from (sic) Dublin that they are in some way being immunised from either disciplinary procedure under the Garda Síochána code, or from potential criminal prosecution should the Director of Public Prosecutions decide to initiate such prosecutions," said Mr McDowell.
Asked how the public could have confidence in the officers transferred, he said: "The deployment of gardaí is a matter for the commissioner and if, for the purpose of enhancing or maintaining public confidence in the Garda Síochána in Co Donegal the commissioner has made decisions to move personnel to Dublin, I think he is a better judge of the implications for the pending criminal prosecutions in which those members may be required to give evidence."
Opposition parties have called on Mr Conroy to explain why the gardaí were transferred.
Labour said the transfer was "puzzling" and could even be interpreted as a reward. Fine Gael said the public deserved a full explanation for the move.
Labour's spokesman on justice, Joe Costello, said the reasons for their transfer needed to be elaborated upon.
"Simply moving these gardaí away from Donegal is an inappropriate and inadequate initial response to the conclusions reached by Mr Justice Frederick Morris," Mr Costello said.
The Garda Commissioner needed to make an immediate statement explaining the reasons for the move.
Fine Gael's spokesman on justice, Jim O'Keeffe, said given the revelations at the Morris tribunal and the conclusions in its first two interim reports, An Garda Síochána should now be in a new era of transparency and accountability.
"In light of that I think Noel Conroy should make a statement explaining why the men are being transferred. I think the public deserves that much."
The members in question are gardaí Martin Anderson, Letterkenny Garda station; Thomas Rattigan, Buncrana; James McDwyer, Ballybofey; Martin Leonard, Letterkenny, and Patrick McDermott, Lifford.
Gardaí McDwyer and McDermott are to be transferred to Garda headquarters in the Phoenix Park. Garda Anderson is to be posted to the Special Detective Unit while Garda Rattigan is to be posted to Cabra and Garda Leonard to Harcourt Terrace.
The men's transfer was announced 10 days after the publication on June 1st of the second interim report of Mr Justice Morris.
Already two senior members criticised in the report have agreed to retire following meetings with Mr Conroy on Tuesday last.
Supt Joe Shelley and Det Supt John McGinley will retire on full pension from July 31st.