Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I compliment Mr. Justice Morris on his clear and lucid report which is outstanding in the clarity of its language and the directness of its findings. This second report raises the most serious questions. I welcome the fact that there will be a full debate in the Dáil and Seanad and I expect that debate will be open-ended.

The second report raises fundamental issues of the most serious import at every level. At the level of individual gardaí who are criticised in the report, they must be dealt with immediately by due process. There are serious systems issues raised about the operation of gardaí at senior level and about the relationship between the Garda and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

There are also serious issues raised about the political responses to the issues dealt with in these two reports, not least of which is a requirement of the previous Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, and the current Minister, Deputy McDowell, who in his capacity as Attorney General advised the then Government on every occasion that there was no need for a public inquiry into these matters, to explain their response. The Government has a clear duty to respond quickly, properly and truthfully in respect of these matters. We also need statements from Deputies O'Donoghue and McDowell as to their reasons for setting their face against an inquiry. That should include reasons no legal aid was given to the McBrearty family, who, along with others, are vindicated by the clarity of the findings of the Morris tribunal.

It is only fair to recognise that former Deputy, now Senator Jim Higgins MEP, and Deputy Howlin were two people who stood up firmly against a ferocious onslaught for an inquiry into this matter. Both of them deserve the credit of the people. We might not be discussing this but for their stubbornness to pursue the truth and to see it is brought forward.

Fine Gael believes in a strong, effective and accountable Garda Síochána. We believe the integrity of the force should be beyond question and that it should have the trust of the people. Sadly, this report diminishes all those who have given outstanding service in terms of service to the country and public duty.

We have supported the passage of the Garda Bill through the House in order to speed up the delivery of an independent and effective complaints system. It remains to be seen whether what passed through Committee Stage last evening is a vehicle of sufficient authority to deal with situations like this. I look forward to comprehensive debate in the House. Out of it, I hope the sea change that should come about, in terms of structures and structural management within the Garda and clarity of response and truth from Government, will see to it that integrity is restored to the only force we have to protect the citizen from intrusion by vandals, thuggery and whatever else.

It is a shame that at the very highest level of where people expect absolute security and integrity, that the Morris report points clearly at a rottenness right at its core.

See this speech in context