Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I welcome Deputy Byrne's intervention and I agree that the intention of the legislation is to tackle crime. As I stated on Committee Stage, if that crime is carried out by a person in uniform, it is even more appalling. It is interesting that the Minister repeated what he stated on Committee Stage, that at some future stage we should examine this. The same attitude was adopted with regard to the Garda Complaints Board, that at some future stage we might change it, give it more powers or make it more effective. This did not happen and because it was so ineffective we, as a society, were forced to come up with the GSOC. We do not want the same to be said about the GSOC in the future. It is time to allow it to be able to operate and, as I stated earlier, it is hoped that it does not have to use these powers. The time to act is now when we have an opportunity. Who knows when the next Bill will come? We might not have an opportunity in the future. For the GSOC to work effectively it needs resources, not time.

On the amendment itself I do not understand how providing this additional power does anything but increase the ability of the Garda Síochána to do its work and help a body which is tasked with ensuring crime within the Garda Síochána, or a culture that existed and was exposed by the Morris tribunal, is at an end and that those who would have an inkling towards it within the force, and I doubt there are many left, if any, understand that the full rigours of the law available to them as members of the Garda Síochána are also available to those who would investigate crime within the force. I will press this amendment.

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