Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Why does the Minister not apply the same standards to himself? That is a fair question because he applied those standards when in opposition but he does not apply them to himself now.

We have questions now about the missing Garda reports. The Minister issued a statement at 6.31 a.m. this morning where he said he asked the Secretary General to confirm with the Garda Commissioner if there was a report. The statement said that the Commissioner confirmed that he caused inquiries to be made by local Garda management as to whether a report of the incident was made at the time. Why can we not have a report today? Can Garda management not generate a report today after consulting with those who were at the incident on Pembroke Street? The fact a report was not generated at the time does not mean one cannot be generated now.

The ultimate issue is that we have lost trust in the Minister for Justice and Equality but, more importantly, all the key stakeholders under his Department have lost trust, as has the wider community. There is a growing sense of arrogance from the Minister and his colleagues and that is related to the huge majority they enjoy in this House. The Minister is trampling on people's right to natural justice and their good name.

I am judging the Minister by his own standards, no more and no less. We have no confidence in him and think he should resign as Minister for Justice and Equality for the reasons we have stated and for his failure to act.

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