Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

The result was that the doctrine of operational independence of the Garda Síochána, of which we all stand completely shoulder to shoulder in support, which states there should not be political direction of the day to day operations of the Garda Síochána, became conflated with a different and I think a slightly pernicious doctrine that the Garda Síochána was not accountable for its day to day operations in the manner which control and scrutiny by both Parliament and the Minister would be properly vindicated.

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