Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)

I support the motion as a constructive attempt to come to terms with the main findings of the Morris tribunal. I support the call for an independent commission into policing in the State. It is urgently needed because the action required will not be achieved by the hotchpotch of amendments with which the Minister, Deputy McDowell, has flooded us in the past 48 hours. A rushed response to the extreme situation presented by the Morris findings is not advisable. A more measured response involving root and branch reform is required. An independent commission could help achieve that result.

I note in the terms of reference for such a commission in the motion before us the objectives that the police service be delivered in constructive and inclusive partnerships with the community at all levels. I fully support that objective. I want in this context to raise what may seem a minor issue, which the Minister might get his officials to examine.

I am involved in two community policing fora, one in the north inner city and one in Cabra. The idea of these fora is that they are above all else partnerships between the community, the local authority and an Garda Síochána. They have the active involvement of these agencies, were both launched by the Taoiseach and are funded by the local drugs task force, whereby they employ co-ordinators based in the local community. However, to employ personnel they are obliged to set up limited companies to disburse public funds. The directors of these companies, it was hoped, would come from the community, the city council and the Garda Síochána. It sounded like the making of a constructive, inclusive partnership until in stepped Garda Commissioner Conroy, who directed that no garda can be a director of any such limited company. This archaic and ham-fisted response to what was until then a real partnership put a question mark over the future viability of these pilot initiatives.

Some Members of the House believe Garda Commissioner Conroy should go. I would go a step further. The position of Garda Commissioner should be taken out of the hands of any serving member of an Garda Síochána and be filled either by an officer from an outside force or some other appropriately qualified, independent person, because what is required is a cultural change.

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