Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The amendment concerns the requirement for the Garda Commissioner to have regard to Government policy in performing his or her functions. As mentioned in regard to earlier amendments, despite the recommendations of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, the removal of all references to the requirement for the Commissioner to have regard to Government policy is necessary in order to depoliticise policing. Under this proposed Bill, the strategy statement, the annual policing plan and the Commissioner in the exercise of his or her functions all retain the obligation to have regard to Government policy. We do not agree with that.