John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would be loth to stand here and making sweeping statements alleging Garda corruption and collusion, particularly at a time when many excellent and hard-working gardaí whom I know are demoralised by their work. They have suffered cuts to their wages and dramatic changes to their job descriptions. That there has been no recruitment for several years has crippled the force. One hundred Garda stations will be closed by the end of the year, resources are stretched and not enough importance is being placed on the brave work being done by gardaí on a daily basis. For example, only two Garda units - the domestic violence and sexual assault unit and the computer crime investigative unit - have access to counselling sessions. This is wrong. All members who suffer from stress or depression as a result of dealing with traumatic cases should have access to counsellors.

The fact that just four in ten cases are being dealt with or investigated by the Garda ombudsman, coupled with the worrying impediments that are being placed in the commission's way, makes it clear that action is needed urgently. Crime is demoralising people, terrifying the elderly and destroying the lives of many young people. To tackle this crime, we need an efficient and effective Garda force operating with the full confidence, support and co-operation of the population it serves.

The Bill proposes a greater role for community feedback in policing. Without Garda accountability, this Bill will only be a pipe dream. It should be supported. Last month, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission released a damning report about an incident in my constituency of Waterford. It claimed that members of the force had not co-operated with its investigation and refused to supply information when requested. The commission was investigating claims that a 38-year-old man had been badly beaten and kicked in the head by the gardaí who arrested him. Two former members of the force were later found guilty of the assault and another was found guilty of perverting the course of justice by moving CCTV cameras while the assault was occurring. The ombudsman claimed that its investigation had been hampered by the lack of support from some gardaí, particularly when it came to supplying necessary documentation. To compound this issue further, the document was later produced in the course of the trial by the defence for certain of the accused. This is wrong.

Nor is this an isolated incident. The ombudsman has highlighted cases in which repeated reminders - 18 in just one case - needed to be sent to Garda stations requesting information during various investigations. In one instance, it took 136 days for information to be provided after a request was made. Often, the relevance of a request is questioned before materials are released. This is unacceptable. I am told that some officers are routinely unwilling to take part even in informal attempts to resolve complaints made against them. It is almost as if a small number of gardaí take insult at being asked to account for themselves. How can the Minister stand over a situation in which gardaí are attending meetings with the ombudsman with nothing to say for themselves? This is on record - no comment, no comment, no comment. This is a matter of serious concern for us all.

Seven years after the Morris tribunal, we are still awaiting the recommended overhaul of the force. We need to reassure the public that senior officers will ensure that all gardaí co-operate with the ombudsman's office promptly. Otherwise, what kind of signal will we send people? The situation needs to be addressed from the top down. Funnily enough, when I showed the Bill to some gardaí, they had no problem with it. Gardaí on the ground have no problem with accountability. This is what we should be aiming for. The Bill goes a long way towards restoring people's confidence, which is badly needed.

I started my contribution by complimenting the good gardaí across the country who are doing their best for people. They do not want to be under investigation because of incidents that they find unacceptable. Were this Bill presented to ordinary gardaí on the ground, superintendents and sergeants who work for and in the community, they would find it acceptable.

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