Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe. Is iontach an rud é go bhfuil ardbhainistíocht an Gharda Síochána sásta teacht os á gcomhair agus os comhair an Choiste um Chuntais Phoiblí freisin. Molaim lucht an fhórsa. Is é sin ceann de na bealaí inar féidir leo muinín a chothú. The witnesses are very welcome. It is very good that Garda management personnel have come before the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality. This is my second meeting as a member of the committee. While I welcome those who are in attendance, I must point out that as I look at them, I search in vain for any sign of gender equality. Given that we are talking about transformation, maybe that will come another day. We seem to be going backwards in terms of gender equality in this area.

I will have to be brief because I am due to speak in the Dáil, unfortunately. I wish it were not the case. It is important to note that the transformation we are discussing is coming about on the back of very serious reports and on the back of people's pain. Nothing was learned from the Morris tribunal, which cost the country a fortune. The O'Higgins report was followed by the Charleton report, which touched on the Garda in addition to other matters. It is very important to mention these reports because they are why we are here now looking at these glossy brochures.

The first practical thing I would like to note is that Assistant Commissioner Finn welcomed the opportunity to make an overhead presentation as a means of communicating to those members of the force who may be watching today's proceedings. Perhaps I am misreading the situation, but that suggests that there has not been adequate consultation.