Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The gravity of this matter requires all of us to take it seriously. We all have a responsibility to restore confidence in the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and an Garda Síochána. Speaking on a Private Members' motion last week, I noted that the Garda Síochána is held in high esteem and is a pivotal pillar of our democracy. Many gardaí have expressed disgust to me that their force is being discredited by many people. The Garda Síochána is the guardian of the State and its members do tremendous work. It behoves all Deputies to ensure this is at the forefront of what we do.

I have a message for Deputy Shortall. Deputies on this side take their job in government seriously and will not funk or walk away from tough decisions. Speaking this morning, the Minister stated: "My concern is, as always, that the full truth is known". That is correct and he is a prodigious, reforming and honest Minister for whom the interests of citizens are at the heart of what he does.

Those who make claims about the Garda must examine their role in this matter. We must protect whistleblowers, which is the reason the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, has introduced a Bill in this area. We must also place victims of crime at the heart of what we do, which is the reason the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, will bring legislation on victims rights before the House. If Deputies have a family member, colleague or friend who has been the victim of crime, they will be aware of the heartache and horror associated with crime. The Minister is taking action for this reason.

Last night on "Six-one", when asked by Brian Dobson whether he was satisfied in his own mind that these concerns were not raised with the then Fianna Fáil Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform during the period in question, Deputy Martin stated, "I am". No one, including the whistleblower, made any such assertion and Dermot Ahern has trenchantly asserted that these concerns were not brought to his attention. I ask the Minister to reveal to the House the full facts regarding the information available to Mr. Ahern when he was the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Last night's statement by the Leader of the Opposition on "Six-one" was astonishing.

What we have seen from Deputy Martin is a cynical act of political opportunism, a continuation of the Punch and Judy type of politics he promised to end when he spoke on the issue on 9 March 2011. He has done so to exploit the victims of crime and their families for the short-term gain of the Fianna Fáil Party, whose Members were missing from the benches opposite for more than one hour of this debate. Moreover, neither the party leader nor its spokesperson on justice is in attendance.

Why did Deputy Martin not give the full facts on television last night? Why did he rush to appear on "Six-one"? We need to have one Minister with responsibility for justice, one Garda Commissioner and one police or Garda service to use the words of Deputy Charles Flanagan. I hope the Minister, during the questions and answers session, will give the House full details of the correspondence received by the former Minister, Mr. Dermot Ahern whom he exonerated when he introduced the debate. The people and families named by the Deputies opposite want answers and deserve to have this information.

Victims of crime must be placed at the heart of the justice system. The Garda and criminal justice system must always work with victims because their lives have been affected by crimes such as murder, assault, misinformation, disappearance and so forth. If we want to see the full impact of crime, let us consider the families who have been affected by it. Deputies must act as custodians for the period for which they are elected.

Deputy Lucinda Creighton spoke about the previous general election. I will not run away from decisions or decline to question Ministers. The Deputy may smile at me cynically but I take my job seriously, as do many of my colleagues on the Government benches. To say otherwise is to engage in populism and Deputy Creighton is better than that. This issue is about people's lives, the Garda Síochána, victims of crime and a Minister who has been maligned for cheap political gain. We can continue to play Punch and Judy if the Deputies opposite so wish but we must also reform how we do business in the House.

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