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

I thank the Chairman. As, I presume, we are coming to the end of the session, I thank the witnesses, particularly the new acting Commissioner, for the co-operation we have all experienced today. I am one of those people who believes it is the role of this committee to quiz, interrogate, investigate and put our views to witnesses and for them to answer our questions. I record again that I deplore "gotcha" tactics in any committee or structure. Such tactics are designed to ambush people and arrive at pre-determined outcomes. It is also important to record the fact that the time of senior police officers, the force's top management, is very valuable. Having to attend multiple committee meetings because they and their members are competing with each other to rehash continuously ground that has already been covered is very regrettable. It does no service to politics or politicians.

Respectfully, I disagree completely with my colleague who questioned Assistant Commissioner O'Driscoll on the last point. All Governments of every hue have the right to express an opinion on policing and to communicate. The Department of Justice and Equality is involved, with its Minister, in the development of policing policy. Ultimately, that Minister has accountability. It would be laughable if the Minister and the Department had no say. It is farcical that political parties which spend hours talking about which post office should or should not remain open would not wish to have an opinion expressed. The point is well made that An Garda Síochána is not to be politicised. The assessment and view of what should be done and how, coming back from the management of An Garda Síochána, is a vital part of that. However, there is also a role in the overall structure for the view of the Department and of Government. That said, I thank the witnesses for the manner in which they have worked with us today.