Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Feehily for her presentation. I found both of the presentations very informative but, at points, I also found them astounding. The reason I say so is exactly the same as what I said to the delegation on the last occasion. It is because of my experience, as an elective representative previously in the North, and my engagement with policing structures and policing oversight bodies that are by no means perfect but are very different. Ms Feehily mentioned in her contribution the importance and significance of transparency, with which I agree, that instils important cultural changes into any organisation. For me, while transparency is critical, the other aspect must be accountability. When we operate within a culture and ethos that has emerged over the past number of years, it does a huge disservice to the small incremental cultural changes that Ms Feehily referenced when there is not that level of both political and independent democratic oversight. In terms of some of things that I have heard, I find it incomprehensible that those proactive accountability mechanisms have not yet been put in place in this State. Given that we are not operating albeit in terms of the legacy that Deputy Brophy spoke about, we do not have the same complex history that policing in the North had in terms of its transformation over the past number of years. The biggest dynamic in that change was the injection of an international and independent review from top to bottom.

Deputy Brophy mentioned that quiet work is important, which is much like the point made by Ms Feehily. I agree quiet work is very important behind the scenes, and I have been involved in some of that around some of the outstanding policing issues in the North at a community level. So, too, is big, bold, political leadership initiatives that have transformed some of the negatives. I do not say so to be glib. I appreciate that I have been on a bit more of a soapbox, rather than asking specific questions. Ms Feehily has already been asked a number of comprehensive questions. However, it was important to state that there needs to be a political transformation that empowers, emboldens and most of all enables an oversight body, like the Policing Authority, to deliver accountability and tangible results for people who expect a policing service of the highest standard in the first instance.

I have a brief question on the security aspect that Ms Feehily touched on very early in her presentation. Are there practical ways in which that aspect has impacted or inhibited the work of the Policing Authority? I mean in terms of trying to, in the authority's limited capacity, provide accountability or democratic and independent oversight.

Ms Feehily might touch on some of that, where it is appropriate, and how she foresees that being able to change moving forward.