Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Okay. As the former assistant commissioner for change management, does the Garda Commissioner not recognise the forthright breakdown in communication and information to the oversight bodies responsible for the Garda and that we absolutely need frontloaded honesty here at all times? I appreciate the mentality she outlines, and that she has said "We have been brought up as policemen and women ...", which I understand. Does the Garda Commissioner not understand that sometimes the provision of a small amount of information, perhaps not the overall figure, is an absolute requirement when it comes to the purpose of this committee? In the last Dáil this committee painstakingly went through a process, including a visit to Northern Ireland and Scotland, to provide the Department of Justice and Equality with examples of what the implementation of a new policing authority would look like. Does the Garda Commissioner not recognise that this is needed? While it might be privileged information to a small group at least the information is then in the hands of a responsible authority which then can make a determination for itself in a professional way as to whether parts of the information should be made public. Does the Garda Commissioner realise that she has a responsibility as part of that process?