Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We had a suggestion in the cost of insurance working group that private industry would fund a section of the Garda. I immediately objected to it. Regardless of who is paying, private money and the Garda should not mix because of the independence of the Garda and everything that goes with it. I am glad that is off the table. We wasted a lot of time in respect of it. However, I am very concerned at Mr. Twomey's statement that discussions are commencing with the Department of Justice and Equality on possible opportunities where the insurance industry may be asked to provide financial support in areas that could assist insurance fraud investigations, such as IT, software, training and analysis. Is that not just another version of private money mixing with the Garda? Why are we going down this road?