Fennelly report timeline: From March 2014 to publication

Monday, March 24th, 2014: Taoiseach Enda Kenny asks secretary general at the Department of Justice Brian Purcell to brief Garda commissioner Martin Callinan on Government concerns regarding the taping of phone calls at garda stations. Justice minister Alan Shatter was said to have been aware of the subsequent meeting which took place at Mr Callinan's home that night.

Tuesday, March 25th, 2014: Mr Callinan furnishes his resignation to Mr Shatter before the cabinet meeting. He said his decision was in the best interests of the force and that "recent developments" surrounding crises in the gardaí had been a distraction. Later that day, RTÉ reports a letter from Mr Callinan dated March 10th outlined the issue of recording systems at stations to the Department of Justice.

Wednesday, March 26th: Mr Shatter sets out to the Dáil a chain of events revealing what and when he knew about the Garda recordings.

Tuesday, April 1st: Supreme Court judge Mr Justice Nial Fennelly is appointed as head of the commission of inquiry by Cabinet.

Tuesday, April 8th: It emerges the commission of investigation into the Garda taping of phone calls will examine both the circumstances leading to the resignation of Mr Callinan and whether or not phone calls were taped by gardaí during the Sophie Tuscan du Plantier investigation.

Thursday, April 10th: The Oireachtas Justice Committee says it will write to the Taoiseach to request two critical issues in the terms of reference – Mr Callinan's resignation and correspondence detailing Garda recordings to the Department of Justice – be the subject of faster, interim reports.

Wednesday, May 7th: Alan Shatter resigns as justice minister.

Wednesday, May 28th: Brian Purcell is admonished at a sitting of the Oireachtas Justice Committee for refusing to answer questions on Mr Callinan's resignation, only describing his visit as "unusual".

Saturday, May 31st: Mr Kenny said he will write to Mr Fennelly within two weeks to outline his account of events leading to Mr Callinan's departure.

Monday, July 28th: Brian Purcell steps aside as secretary general following a critical report into the operations of the Department of Justice.

2015

Sunday, March 15th: As the work of Fennelly continues, Mr Kenny refuses to comment on reports he was recalled to help resolve conflicting evidence. " [It is] an offence for anybody associated with the commission to comment on it and I do not propose to breach the law," he said on a visit to the US. The completion of an interim report, expected by the end of 2014, is continually delayed.

Thursday, June 11th: Interim report is circulated to interested parties.

Tuesday, September 1st: Interim report is published.