Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to try to take the politics out of this and look at it in a very cold, clinical and forensic light. If one looks at it that way, the accumulation of evidence here is that there is an utter crisis in the justice system in this country. There is a complete lack of confidence among the people. It was indicative of what is happening that members of the Labour Party have so eloquently expressed that view and they are welcome to do so. Justice here is toxic. Justice is regarded by the ordinary people in this country as toxic and they have lost confidence in the gardaí at the top and the management of the gardaí at the top as a result of this accumulation of evidence.

The fundamental problem that the Labour Party has so belatedly come to conclude today as far as I can see is that the gardaí are politically appointed. I do not know whether Members of this House were here last Friday but if they were-----

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