Mr. Michael Finn:

The Deputy already touched on an issue that is probably at the root of our problems. We have an IT system that is 20 years old and not fit for purpose. It is at the root of many of the issues we are discussing in respect of data, the classification of homicides, how breath tests are recorded and so on. Technology has moved on massively in 20 years. Last week, I read in the Government's development plan for the future that one of the areas in which significant amounts of money will be invested is a new IT system for An Garda Síochána. We need that, but we cannot deliver it overnight. Even if the Government was to give us all the money we needed tomorrow morning it would take time to deliver it. We have to get from where we are right now to the point when that new system will kick into place. We are tweaking something which is 20 years old and which was not designed for what we have achieved with it. It is causing us difficulties and challenges. We have to do our best with what we have in order to make it fit and to get us through until that new era when that money and new IT project will be delivered.

In my opinion, in which I may be a bit biased, changing management will not solve all those problems overnight. That is my opinion. As I said, perhaps I am biased. The Deputy already touched on our IT system having caused us massive problems in recent times. It is not fit for purpose. We know that. That has been articulated by the inspectorate and others. However, we have to live with it until such time as that new project is delivered. I am delighted to see that funding is being made available because we all share the view that we need a new IT system in order to be able to give the type of information that Dr. Singh needs to inform our policing plans and the way in which we patrol and look after the victims of crime. All of those things are important. Changing the management today will not solve all those problems.