Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Mick Clifford reported in the Irish Examiner that the Policing Authority had been contacted by a recently retired Garda sergeant who claims that there is evidence that the volume of breath test checkpoints was inflated in official figures. This sergeant prepared a report for his district officer before retiring last year in which he pointed out that the official figures for checkpoints completed could be up to twice the number actually performed. He stated that the reply he got dismissed his concerns and criticised him. Were the targets for checkpoints between 2011 and 2016 unrealistic, given the Garda resources on the ground? Who set the targets for checkpoints? Were there any penalties for not meeting the targets? Were any gardaí promoted on the basis of fraudulently claiming to meet these targets?

The Commissioner spoke earlier about the lack of resources, which may have played a role in underachieving in certain areas. She is the boss. Given that she has only recently put together an expensive team of individuals of her choosing to deal with the Charleton inquiry, she clearly has the wherewithal to determine where resources are used. If I asked the Minister for Justice and Equality how resources were allocated, she would tell me it was an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. Does the Commissioner think she could use the resources at her disposal more effectively?