Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Once the good name of an organisation is tarnished, the reason for this must be addressed and remedied if confidence is to be rebuilt. When the organisation is one of the cornerstones of democracy, the task is all the more important. As we are told that not only do we have the first and second Morris reports, but that a third will follow, there is clearly cause for concern.

It is impossible to judge from outside how deeply the problems identified by Mr. Justice Morris permeate. However, it is clear he identified concerns which he felt went beyond Donegal, or at the least he had concerns with some attitudes. An independent commission, for which the motion calls, is an ideal way of researching a response, in addition to the implementation of the Morris recommendations.

As a new Deputy, I cannot believe the way in which the Garda Síochána Bill has been handled in its concluding Stages. I was not expecting so many amendments so quickly. While the Bill has been in gestation for several years, it is clear many amendments, some substantial, have appeared overnight.

We must be balanced and consider how the law impacts on gardaí because only a minority will be implicated in this matter. The Garda staff associations were summoned to meet officials of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform yesterday. On arrival, they realised it was not a briefing session but a conciliation hearing. On realising this, they withdrew. Most other workers would have the Labour Court or the Labour Relations Commission to seek redress. However, the Garda Síochána gets its rights of conciliation and arbitration from the 1989 regulations on discipline. It is clear the staff associations would not have walked out if they did not feel these rights were being infringed.

Mr. Justice Morris complained there was an over-reliance on the courts to deal with disputes. We are doing the reverse of what he recommended in pushing these staff associations towards the courts. There must be fair play on every side on this issue. Many of the amendments are reactive rather than proactive and sufficient time has not been given to properly consider them.

See this speech in context