Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Commissioner yesterday clarified the context in which he used the word "disgusting" in respect of the incidents that occurred. I will not repeat his clarification. He made that clarification over the context in which he made that remark.

On the question as to whether the Commissioner has failed, it is very clear the Commissioner introduced new measures and procedures as a result of the earlier assessments of this process. The latest report, the report if the inspectorate, has clearly stated that the procedures need further improvement and has set out a different approach, including, for example, a central audit arrangement so that there would not be multiple sources of potential audit occurring and having a single centre authorising the decisions to reduce penalty points.

Clearly the new recommendations go far beyond what was introduced in the past, but that was what this inspectorate was asked to do. It was asked by the Minister for Justice and Equality to look at the various reports that had been assembled, the O'Mahoney report, the PSU report and the past reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General and make recommendations for a robust system in which the public can have confidence in the future.

That is what they have done. I freely acknowledge they go well beyond what the gardaí had done before, but that is why we asked them to do it and it cannot be seen as a reflection that we now have an agenda that will fix this which is being implemented. We cannot use it as a reflection on the past but, of course, we have to learn from the shortcomings. However, the actions the Commissioner took, which were in good faith, were not sufficient and now we are going a good deal further.

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