Alan Kelly asks why it was left to him to give Justice Minister details on Carlow shooter
Mr Fitzgerald (22) entered the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow town on June 1 and discharged a number of rounds from a shotgun before taking his own life.
He had been facing 13 charges for possessing military-grade guns, ammunition and explosive substances following a garda investigation into the purchase of firearms on the dark web.
Last week Mr Kelly queried the manner of the garda operation leading to Mr Fitzgerald's arrest, including deploying undercover detectives to carry out a 'controlled delivery' of decommissioned weapons.
Separately, Independent senator Michael McDowell told the Seanad that the events in Carlow 'could have been avoided' through diversion rather than 'entrapment' or prosecution by gardaí.
Today, Mr Kelly said Mr Fitzgerald had "tragically and very publicly" taken his own life after getting bail following an undercover garda operation and being charged.
"I'm asking why the Garda Commissioner didn't inform and brief the Minister for Justice of the details of this case," Mr Kelly said, citing legislation requiring that this be done.
The details the Minister should have been briefed on, Mr Kelly argued, included "the fact that it was undercover and the guns were supplied by An Garda Síochána."
He added: "Is it right that I, as a member of the opposition, had to ring the Minister for Justice in relation to this and inform him of that?
"I had to go and tell him to go to the Garda Commissioner to ask him about the full details in relation to this case.
"Would we have ever known about the full details relation to this case, considering what was said in court, if I hadn't contacted the Minister for Justice on June 3 in relation to this?"
Tánaiste Simon Harris expressed sympathy with Mr Fitzgerald's family, saying he was "a county man of mine, and I know it's been a great shock in the local community in Wicklow as well."
The Fine Gael leader suggested that it was "a complex case."
He added: "I'm obviously not privy - nor should I be - to when the Garda Commissioner does and doesn't use that provision in the Act [to inform the Minister for Justice].
"That's a matter between himself and the minister. But I do understand that the Minister for Justice has sought further information from the Garda Commissioner on the case.
"I also not the comments of the Taoiseach last week in relation to this issue and a need for a review.
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