Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I feel it is important to make those points.

I wish to take this opportunity to reflect on the various reports that have been published. The Government's response to the reports, which is essentially what we are here to discuss, has been proportionate and timely. While mismanagement is the core issue, there are other issues involved. To a certain extent, some of the problems have been exaggerated for political reasons, which is unfortunate. In many respects, there is a tendency to exaggerate, for political ends, the failures of public bodies and public servants. In so far as that happens, it is regrettable.

The first question is whether the kind of corrupt behaviour that Mr. Justice Morris identified in Donegal is endemic in the Garda Síochána. In my view it is not endemic in the force. So far, I have heard five Opposition speakers but not one of them has mentioned any of the positive matters to which Mr. Justice Morris referred. He referred to the bravery of some witnesses who came before the tribunal to give evidence which is clearly damaging to them — from ordinary rank and file gardaí to Chief Superintendent Peter Fitzgerald, whose bravery Judge Morris picked out.

It is worth remembering there were several factors in Donegal that distinguished that area from other parts of the country. This is worth reflecting on when we pose the question of whether we think the problem is endemic, greater than what is being portrayed and if it goes to the core of the Garda Síochána. There are historical issues regarding Donegal, which include its closeness to the Border and the problems of dealing with subversives and explosives. Those issues may have caused the Donegal Garda division to develop in a different manner to other parts of the country. We should bear that in mind.

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