Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Corcoran. We are taking no more questions. I will hold my thanks to immediately after this but, at the closure and given that some members concentrated on particular areas of what I emphasise again is public concern while others of us dealt with issues of structural accountability and corporate areas, it is important to reflect that the views expressed and concerns voiced were shared by many as a result of what we know through the media. I have never met - he is my constituent, I understand - Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe. I have never met the man. When I say that I can understand and empathise with colleagues' questioning and their concerns, that is because we are all informed by what we read and what we are hearing through the broadcast media.

I will share with the Commissioner that, even though we are talking about a small number, I am mindful that the reality of the situation is that one of those who now is one of that small number could very well in an earlier situation have been part of her panel here today. That is the truth. I am speaking specifically in respect of the superintendent, Mr. Taylor, who I do not know but who is the former Garda press officer. The report of Mr. John Barrett, who was the head of human resources, was presented to the Tánaiste just a little over a month ago, I understand. These are people in substantial positions. There is unquestionably a huge need to have all of this properly addressed.

I will close by saying that I sincerely hope - I am not across the detail of it personally - that Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill's terms of reference allow him to pursue, to seek and to secure all of the information that is relevant to the task that he has been set and that we get to a resolution of these matters at the earliest possible time. That is in the interest of something that Ms O'Sullivan gave a welcome voice to in her opening remarks. What I believe would be the wish of the overwhelming number of, if not all, serving members of An Garda Síochána is that we have a 21st century police service that is deserving of public confidence and has the full respect necessary for all of its serving members.

I will commend the Garda Commissioner on one last point. Nowhere in her contribution, either written or orally, today did she refer to a "force". I have also commended Ms Josephine Feehily on her choice of language. The people of this State - of this island of Ireland - want to see a policing service and I very much welcome Ms O'Sullivan's commitment to that. On behalf of the committee, I thank her and each of her colleagues - Garda members and civilian members of the team across the board - for appearing before us and wish them all well in their collective responsibility in ensuring that we have a well-served society and that all the matters that they are to address are done so properly.