Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that Dáil Éireann has been allowed to hold a debate on a matter of grave public importance. Nothing is more important to the work we are elected to do than ensuring all officers of the State work to protect the public and promote justice for all. Throughout history, a core foundation of democracy has been a willingness to question those who are given the power to administer justice. There is no police force in the world that is completely free from problems and there never will be. I have no doubt a significant reason Ireland is now one of the world’s older democracies has been the success of An Garda Síochána. It has built and maintained public confidence through the most challenging of situations, in particular when faced with a private army which viewed itself as the real State and the ongoing struggle against lawless gangs who seek to terrorise too many communities. It is a tribute to the Garda that throughout the country people are protesting against the Government’s policy of downgrading the links between gardaí and the communities they serve.

We should all reject absolutely the idea that to raise concerns is in any way to question the work of the force a whole, something the Minister again did in the initial part of his speech. When serious questions arise, public representatives and the Government we elect have a duty to ensure they are comprehensively and objectively investigated. In fact, the only way of protecting the standing of the force is to have public trust that failings are actively being sought and dealt with.We have a duty to act in such a way as to encourage people with evidence of wrongdoing to come forward. Over the years we have all learned there are no institutions beyond criticism, scrutiny and accountability, and that is what a healthy democracy represents. In this House, we have also learned that setting up an independent inquiry can actually assist with maintaining confidence in the justice system.

The basic background to this debate is that serious questions have arisen on a number of fronts and there is no faith that they have been handled properly. That is the bottom line. The announcement yesterday of a review of one aspect of the controversy comes two years on from the issues being raised, and after weeks of delay and denial.This is the Government that, when elected three years ago, promised to value, encourage and protect whistleblowers as part of its claimed democratic revolution.The evidence available to us, however, is that efforts have been made at various levels to dampen if not squash allegations that were made about some past activities within the Garda.Other matters concerning the possible bugging of GSOC and the dismissal of the Garda confidential recipient are absolutely linked to the whistleblower allegations, because they form a central element of how the Government is undermining public trust in a vital part of the administration of justice.

In recent weeks the Minister for Justice and Equality has continually failed to meet the basic test of handling serious allegations effectively. His response and the responses of his colleagues have been to try to end the controversy rather than deal with it.The ongoing campaign to try to blame the previous government is as cynical as it is pathetic. The number of Fine Gael Deputies attacking the messenger suggests that the party is co-ordinating this effort.

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