Mr. Bob Collins:

In many respects, yes. In some critical respects, however, I believe that it would be stronger and more effective. I have identified for example its involvement in the development of the services plan. This is the Commissioner's plan but at the moment it approves that plan in such a way that it can introduce into that conversation its experience of the public accountability and its experience of the engagement it has with the community, its outreach, and its engagement right across the State throughout the year. That lived experience of policing is an important element to be introduced into the shaping of the plan. There is a real risk that this will be significantly diminished under the new arrangements. I am not sure if that was the intention of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. It would be odd if it were. A view seems to have been developed by the commission that in some way the existence of the Policing Authority impinged upon the managerial and executive independence of the Commissioner. It was not so and cannot be so. Nothing can be pointed to indicating that it could ever be so. Therein I see a risk.