Mr. Ronan Brady:

In many police services throughout the world, journalists speak directly with members of the police service without any particular problems. In the United States it is extremely common and in other parts of northern Europe it is also common, although there are greater restrictions than in the United States. Section 62 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for a presumption of criminality against any officer who speaks to a journalist. That is an extremely disproportionate position to take and it threatens the normal interplay between members of the media and gardaí. The idea that everything has to be referred upstairs is exactly part of the problem that members have been discussing.

There needs to be a sense of responsibility on the part of ordinary folk doing a professional job and a recognition that they do so in a public arena. Section 62 is far too punitive.