Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I acknowledge the good work the Garda does, often in very challenging circumstances. Obviously, it is unfortunate that we are here discussing a report of this nature. It is very important that An Garda Síochána does not suffer any irregularities, that it is transparent and that it is seen to be so. We must ensure we try to mitigate as much as possible the reputational damage done to the force. The report before us is shocking.

On foot of that, the first question I want to ask concerns risk management procedures. I note on page 16 of the interim audit report that "[t]here was a requirement from 2004 onwards from the Department of Finance for all Votes to have Risk Management Procedures in place" and that this happened from 2010 through Garda management. That is obviously a huge delay. We were giving out earlier about Bord na gCon's delay in its process, but this is not something one would expect in such an advanced force as An Garda Síochána. The final line of the same paragraph reads: "Despite these issues being identified as risks by the Finance Directorate, they were not included in the Garda College Risk Register, the Finance Directorate Risk Register or the Corporate Risk Register." Has this been rectified?