Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Although time is limited today, I draw to the attention of the House that a veritable transformation is taking place in the Garda Síochána. It is not the same old force; it is a changing force in a changing Ireland. All the things that are happening are for the better. It is challenging to people who are loyal to an institution to see it changing under their eyes but I wish to thank each and every member of the force for their continued commitment.

I draw to the attention of the House that more than 7,000 people applied to join the Garda Reserve and more than 10,000 people recently applied to join the force. It must remain as a force in a good place in the hearts and minds of the people. The majority of gardaí do their work honestly and conscientiously and with a great spirit of public service. Like me, they are taken aback and shocked by some of the events that emerged in the Morris reports and by what happened at the time of the events dealt with in the Nally report. There has to be an end to wrongdoing and to any culture of cover-up and any culture of collusion which created a context for some of these activities. There has to be a different way for the Garda Síochána to carry out its functions in the future. No longer will misplaced and ill-judged loyalty to corrupt bullies be allowed to supplant the loyalty that all gardaí and all citizens owe to the Constitution and the law, to the people and to the Garda Síochána itself.

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