Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

As the Deputy is aware, anyone can go to a TD. It is provided that the provision of information, even confidential information, to a TD or a Member of the Oireachtas does not breach the Garda's duty of confidentiality. This is already included in the Bill in statutory form.

I want to make it clear that this Bill is based on consultation and reflection on what went wrong. What went wrong fundamentally was that governance within the Garda Síochána became atrophied or ineffectual. Correspondingly, discipline disintegrated. Accountability became formalised and fossilised, with members feeling entitled to refuse accountability to their superiors and to have access instead to representative association advice or legal advice before answering straightforward questions about the manner in which they carried out their duty.

I made this point on the last occasion and I repeat it, these did not happen overnight. They must have been present in 1992-95 when the first——

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