Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Feehily for her attendance. In contrast to ten years ago, there are a lot of statutory bodies involved in supervising gardaí, namely, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, the Garda Inspectorate and the Policing Authority. We also frequently have commissions of investigation, which have to be considered seriously, and reports under the Garda Síochána Act. In my view, of all the authorities I have mentioned the Policing Authority has the most potential and its statutory authority could become very powerful if developed in the right way. This would be to the benefit of An Garda Síochána.

Deputy Wallace referred to the O'Higgins report, the main message of which was the significant absence of management and supervision within An Garda Síochána. What can Ms Feehily do to try to improve management and supervision?

The power of the authority will be envied for the moulding role it can play in respect of the Garda Síochána through the power of recruitment, which it will get in due course. Is it the intention of the authority to hold competitions for recruitment to positions such as superintendent? Is it Ms Feehily's ambition to seek to offer those positions to people who are not within An Garda Síochána? I refer to police officers in different jurisdictions or graduates who might have a useful role to play. What will Ms Feehily do to encourage the young ambitious garda who wants to improve himself or herself by going onto third level education, as many do at present? How will his or her efforts be rewarded in terms of promotion?