Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the work the Minister for Finance is doing on the pensions issue. Is it the Minister’s intention to wait to conclude the process until that work has been done? Will the role be left vacant until that point? I understand that would take some time. I also understand the need to let the process take its course.

On the recruitment process and the applications having closed, can the Minister inform the House as to whether any senior members of An Garda Síochána have applied for that position? I agree entirely that those working in the security sphere within An Garda Síochána take their role seriously and I am glad to hear the Minister say that nobody will be appointed to the role of deputy Garda commissioner with responsibility for intelligence where that appointment would pose a threat to our national security or would not be appropriate. In that context, I ask her to consider the advice from people in other jurisdictions with significant experience in this area. They believe, as do I, that the reason it is not appropriate to appoint somebody from another police force or jurisdiction to a lead intelligence role in national security in this State is that if they have links to another country, including perhaps family members living in another country, they could be open to having pressure exerted on them. That is just the nature of how these things often work. It is through no fault of their own but these are the risks involved with having somebody in that role who may have may have additional exposures that domestic applicants will not have. That is what I refer to when I speak about this.

Despite the level of change and reform the Bill is making to our policing system, this issue has not been properly or adequately addressed by the Government. We are taking a very hands-off approach as though it will all be fine until it is not fine. The issue has arisen because the pensions issue just happens to have highlighted it and brought it to the fore. We need to take a more focused look at it, rather than waiting for something to happen before reacting, as is often the case in many Departments on many issues. It is not a criticism of the Minister's work - there is a lot of good reform - but this is one area where we need to be proactive rather than being reactive and waiting for something to happen before we act.