Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To the extent that tonight's debate allows us focus on the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the resources allocated to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, I welcome it. It is important that sufficient resources are allocated to GSOC to enable it carry out all investigations it determines as admissible. In other words, it should no longer have to refer investigations which it determines admissible to the Garda Síochána to investigate, as is provided for in the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and as is common practice.

To the extent that tonight's debate allows us focus on another weakness of the Garda Síochána Act, that the Garda Commissioner, assistant commissioner or anybody acting in the place of a Garda Commissioner or assistant commissioner is exempt from being investigated by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, I also welcome it. I welcome the appointment of Mr. Justice John Cooke, formerly of the High Court and the Court of First Instance of the European Communities. I have no doubt he will cast a cold eye on the allegations, counter-allegations and all the information before coming to an impartial conclusion which takes account of all the available details.

However, I doubt that is the purpose of tonight's debate. The Leader of the Opposition - I use the term in its loosest possible term - this morning cast himself as Marcellus in "Hamlet" but there is a line from that play which is perhaps more appropriate. It is "I took thee for thy better". Ironically, it describes the fate of poor Polonius, who was caught eavesdropping behind a curtain. Tonight's debate was not about strengthening the institution of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. Neither was it about strengthening the role of the Garda or confidence in the force. The sole purpose of tonight's debate, and much of what has gone on in the House for the past three days - which is becoming increasingly tedious for the public - is the undermining of the Garda Síochána and its ombudsman commission and the politicisation of a force which has until now in the State's history been above politics.

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