Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I must declare I have a member of An Garda Síochána in my family. My brother is a garda. I absolutely understand the nature of the job. However from our political work all of us are aware of difficulties within An Garda Síochána and controversies relating to it. I know particularly in disadvantaged communities there has been a history of a fraught relationship with An Garda Síochána. I want to be in a position as a legislator in years to come, and I hope it does not come to this point, that if there were another controversy I would be able to point to this legislation and state that policing principles require these services to be provided independently, impartially and in accordance with the law. The legislation would be stronger for having these five words. These things may be implicit and assumed but if we are trying to bring the people of the country along with us to accept the validity of An Garda Síochána and the work it does, what underpins those principles is vital. Some may come to this conversation with absolute respect for An Garda Síochána. My regret is that not everybody does. In any circumstance in the future, as we try to predict these things, I hope we will never have to be in a position to point to these words but I would rather they were there than not there. This is why I strongly encourage the Minister to reflect on the amendment.