Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 4 October 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Recent Issues Relating to An Garda Síochána: Acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin

9:00 am

Photo of Colm BrophyColm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was fairly happy with the comments until this point but I have a real problem now. I always find that when organisations make mistakes, the mistake is made in a self-serving way. I hope An Garda Síochána does not go down this route. I am sorry but the assistant commissioner's answer is unacceptable. He started by saying that there was a cutback here and a cutback there and that An Garda Síochána did not have this. He said gardaí were not really aware of the number of breath tests being carried out or that they were part of something which they monitored. If nobody was aware of any of that, it is very funny that, instead of not recording it or recording little or no information, everybody decided - very conveniently - to record massive increases in the numbers, which suited themselves and a narrative that flattered the activity level of An Garda Síochána. It was a very self-serving mistake, regardless of who was in place or the lack of management. Mr. O'Sullivan said he was not aware that it was quantifiable but people did not simply record a zero entry while telling their boss they had been out doing the tests for an hour; they made up an enlarged figure that made everybody look good. It only takes one or two managers in any place to have some integrity and, when they see something careering off the rails, to call a halt. Unfortunately, in this area nobody did.

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