Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will make a few suggestions. First, while the name of the person mentioned in this letter is in the public arena, we have not put it in the public arena, and I propose we redact the person's name before we publish the letter. The name is out there but it is not for us to put it out there. The name is mentioned three or four times in the letter but it will be redacted when we publish it. Second, I think everybody is clear that An Garda Síochána does not have an organisational policy in place for exit surveys, so it does not know. That is the honest answer. If it does not have a policy, it could not have said there is no record. We will, therefore, ask the Commissioner whether he will put a policy in place. If he will, we will ask how it will be implemented, and if he will not, we will ask him for reasons.

I will move on. I am taking a slightly different approach to this. I see a distinction in this letter between the arrest and what we are talking about, particularly in the last paragraph, which states that where cases of fraud are suspected, they are escalated for criminal investigation. They have nothing to do with HR. If someone in the Garda believes fraud has been committed by another member of the Garda, the matter goes straight to a fraud investigation. The letter further notes that instances of non-compliance with sick leave regulations are reported to HR. Someone came to the conclusion that there was a suspected case of fraud here, but HR does not follow up on fraud. HR can do what it likes, but if the Garda suspects fraud, it must follow it up on a criminal basis. These are two different, unconnected tracks. One can follow the other, though it does not have to. I have seen cases over the years of gardaí being prosecuted for allegedly taking €200 or €300 out of a station from money handed in for gun licences. That is suspected fraud, which goes straight to a criminal investigation. That does not only go to HR, because if the Garda believes there is fraud it goes off on that track. That is the Garda's job. It has a second role as an employer and HR comes into that. I see why one went-----