Fianna Fáil says its happy the Garda Commissioner "got a hard time" from the new Policing Authority.

But a Fine Gael minister has said she retains confidence in Noirin O'Sullivan to lead reforms in the force.

Their comments follow a hard-hitting statement from the Policing Authority, which says it's dismayed at findings in the O'Higgins report.

In particular, it has raised concern that the findings of the O'Higgins Commission are similar to those of previous inquiries, including the Morris Tribunal and the Garda Inspectorate.

It's called the Commissioner in for two public hearings next month - and Fianna Fáil's Jim O'Callaghan says the hearings will be important on both sides.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly reports: