Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While I can understand that there might be differences in interpretation, they range across a wide area. The gap between nine and 50 is a large number of recommendations on which to differ. The process of replacing the Garda Commissioner will be lengthy. What does the acting Commissioner intend to do to ensure that the pace of reform while that is going on does not slow but continues?

Will the acting Commissioner clarify for the committee the exact process for the reopening of Garda stations? At the Committee of Public Accounts last Thursday he said in reply to one question: "What the Government does is the Government's business. All I can do is based on what went in and what came back. There was a need to await the final report, I would say." The acting Commissioner also said he did as the Government asked him to do.

I had sight of a response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Farrell on the reopening of Rush Garda station which states: "...the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter." It is important to clarify who exactly takes the final decision. Is it the decision of the acting Commissioner alone on the back of recommendations to reopen Stepaside or any other Garda station? What is the exact relationship between Government decisions and the acting Commissioner's role in decisions like that?