Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are similarities between the HSE and the Garda Síochána. In terms of the cervical smear controversy, one of the disadvantages was that there was no board in the HSE that could step in and call for the matter to be dealt with immediately. It is a similarly situation with the Garda Síochána when the breath test issue and homicide figures were examined. In those instances it would have been beneficial to have a board that could call for the matters to be resolved or dealt with in a particular way immediately.

I have a big question, which is one for policymakers in the future. I get the impression that Ms Feehily thinks the Minister should not have an overly supervisory role. Am I wrong? I believe that she thinks the Policing Authority should be the entity to which An Garda Síochána and the Commissioner report, and that the Minister should get out of the way. It is a very big question, as I know she is aware.