The Dáil has heard that a new garda whistleblower has revealed claims that gardaí and drug dealing are connected.

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has revealed that a garda this afternoon has gone to the Garda Confidential Recipient with claims that there was a systematic effort by high-ranking officers in 2009 to induce and coerce Irish citizens to buy drugs to boost crime detection figures.

The Roscommon South-Leitrim TD and European election candidate for Midlands-North West also says there are claims of a cover-up of a file being stolen and removed from the Pulse system.

Deputy Luke Flanagan says the whistleblower in this case is "a hero" and should be praised by the Government.

"We need reassurances that when this information ends up with the Garda Commissioner it will not filter down the line and scupper what these people are trying to achieve" he said.