Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I endorse what the Chairman said. We must be realistic. To say it is beyond or may not be within our remit is not helpful when we are trying to chase the loss of public money, as the consequences are way beyond the immediate implications. The point about discretion is fundamental. If members of An Garda Síochána are bent, the abuse of their powers means that they are indulging in utterly unacceptable and probably illegal activity. If they are doing it in one place, they are liable to be doing it at the initial stages. If we are to funk that issue, we will be doing the wrong thing. We must be upfront and face the issue, instead of saying it is outside our remit, that we will not touch it and let us bury it. Let us face the facts about the Garda force. The clerk addressed the issue by constantly referring to the need for a culture change in the Garda. I accept that, but a culture change means changing the habits of gardaí who have done these things at all stages. That means addressing the issueab initio, at the very first stage. It also means that the members of the Committee of Public Accounts should address the O'Mahoney report on Sergeant McCabe, the findings of which, after all, as the Chairman said, were very convenient for An Garda Síochána, whereas the other reports were very uncomfortable for the force.