Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is what I am doing. I am just pointing to where the rot really set in. It was at the top, as we know. It was not due to the garda on the beat or in the squad car doing his or her job. There is rot at the top that must be sorted out and the issue must be depoliticised. I am simply pointing out that if other Ministers had taken those actions, they would not have got away with it. It is that simple.

The Guerin report points to many issues, but others must also be investigated. Promises were made by political parties and the Taoiseach that the Omagh bombing would be investigated. The families concerned have been ignored by the Taoiseach since he took office, as they were by the former Minister for Justice and Equality. The Taoiseach told me in the House that he was directing the former Minister to meet them, but it never happened, despite what had happened to them and their suffering. When one makes promises when one is in opposition, people expect one to live up to them. They expect one to support the Garda, but that support was not forthcoming, but I know it will be forthcoming from the Minister. I have that much respect for her.

Much soul searching must be done at the top of the Department and An Garda Síochána, not at the bottom. Everything seems to start at the bottom, with the foot soldiers, despite the foot-dragging in a letter taking 15 days to be delivered to the Minister. Whether he received it by e-mail or otherwise, we will never know, but it took 15 days for it to be delivered physically. That is not acceptable in a modern system. What if one rang the Garda and had to wait 15 days for a garda to arrive? I realise people in some areas must wait a long time for gardaí to arrive, but that is because they do not have the patrol cars, equipment or wherewithal required. I met a garda when canvassing several months ago after the storm. He said he was better off at home because in the station he had no telephone, broadband or patrol car. What does this do to morale? It is soul destroying for a member of An Garda Síochána to have to say this.

There must be a root and branch review and I hope the commission of investigation will be able to get to the root of this issue. If not, a more serious examination of the entire system will be required. The system is badly broken. I met the former garda Mr. Wilson on the plinth a few minutes ago and he told me the same story that was related by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. If it is true, it is very disturbing. I will not say whether it is true or false, but it is disturbing to hear about such cases. As public representatives, we have a duty to raise them in the House, but I thought all of that was well behind us and that the people concerned would be listened to and respected.

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