Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Government have expressed confidence in Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan following the publication of two garda reports into the falsification of breath tests and wrongful convictions.

Opposition parties had again called on the Government to seek the resignation of the commissioner.

It emerged today that an investigation into the recording of almost one million false breath tests by gardaí discovered another half-a-million false tests that were recorded but not carried out.

The Policing Authority noted the reports and said it would discuss them when it meets later this month.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan has said that if he were Minister for Justice he would "bring a memo to Cabinet to say it's in the best interests of An Garda Síochána for there to be a change in the garda commissioner and for the garda commissioner to be removed".

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said Ms O’Sullivan "should go", while Labour leader Brendan Howlin has said "an immediate resignation" would be "the norm" in any other jurisdiction after such revelations.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr O’Callaghan said if reports of an extra half million false garda breath tests are correct, then it would be "one of the most damaging findings against An Garda Síochána in its long and distinguished history".

Mr O'Callaghan described the revelations as "scandalous" and said they have "undermined public confidence in an Garda Siochana" and "the person who's accountable is the person at the top".

He said "unfortunately it confirms that gardaí were giving false information and establishes that gardaí were acting dishonestly in carrying out their public duties."

We can't simply pass on from that and say let's now develop a new method of reform for the gardaí. There has to be a consequence for it.

He said the Government has power and responsibility and under Section 11 of the Garda Síochána Act, it can remove a Garda Commissioner if it believes it is in the best interest of the force.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Adams described the news that an investigation into how almost one million false breath tests were recorded on An Garda Síochána computer systems has discovered a further 500,000 false tests that were also recorded but not carried out as "astonishing".

He said that "the Taoiseach should act in this case and Nóirín O'Sullivan should go".

Mr Adams said the revelations raise issues around the competence of gardaí and the lack of accountability, as well as the role of Ms O’Sullivan and the Government in dealing with it.

"The problem is when the Government doesn't act decisively when there's a crisis of this proportion then people become fatigued, people become demoralised and the big problem is, and it's a prevalent across lots of sectors in this State, is the lack of accountability," he said.

"No one seems at any point to be held accountable".

He said Ms O'Sullivan "patently should go".

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke, Mr Howlin said he could not imagine a chief constable of any of the police forces in the UK making a similar public announcement without it being accompanied by an immediate resignation.

"We need to have change at the top," he added.

Mr Howlin said his reaction was one of depression as "this is not one maverick guard or even a maverick division", but that "a culture within An Garda Síochána that allowed now one and a half million false breath tests to falsify an area of policing which is really important for us".

He said he hopes that the report of the new Policing Authority, when published, "will have teeth".

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said that it would be "truly unbelievable" if the Government, the Minister for Justice and the Taoiseach did not now "demand the immediate resignation" of Ms O'Sullivan.

The Dún Laoghaire TD said that "not only do we need the immediate resignation of Commissioner O'Sullivan but we also need a complete clear out of top garda management".

Mr Boyd Barrett added: "There is quite clearly a toxic culture which comes from the top of the gardaí and this has to be investigated and changed."

This evening, a spokesperson for Government said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had repeated today that he has confidence in Nóirín O'Sullivan.

Independent ministers in Government also gave their full backing to the commissioner, the spokesperson said.

