Brendan Howlin has said he is unsure if Noirin O'Sullivan is the right person to bring the force forward.
It follows confirmation from the Taoiseach that a number of senior gardaí have made 'protected disclosures' to the Justice minister.
Deputy Howlin expressed his disappointment that a “cultural shift” has yet to occur within the Gardaí and
The Labour leader told Newstalk Drive that the culture of 'circling the wagons' over wrongdoing amongst some gardaí needs to be eradicated adding that "cultural change" has to be driven from the top.
“I wanted to give fair wind to the new commissioner but it is really disappointing that culturally An Garda Síochána is a very cold place for whistleblowing,” he said.
His comments come after Commissioner O'Sullivan failed to answer questions about the latest whistleblower scandal this morning:
"If there is any truth in the charge that is now being made that any senior member of An Garda Síochána was complicit in orchestrating or even knowing about a campaign of persecution or vilification against a whistleblower and did nothing - that person should not be in An Garda Síochána," said Deputy Howlin.
Former High Court Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill has been appointed to lead an inquiry into the allegations and Deputy Howlin said the review should be allowed due process.
