Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the debate generated by Deputy Ross’s Bill. I also congratulate Deputy Fitzgerald on her new appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality. She has a track record of reform in her time as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

The Government has already commissioned the Fennelly, Guerin and Cooke reports. It has agreed to set up a commission of inquiry into the serious allegations made thus far and to establish a new independent Garda authority. The Government has stated that the new Commissioner will be appointed by way of open competition. Regardless of how the Commissioner is appointed, mistakes will be inevitable. The new Commissioner will be human. The problems of recent years arose through systems failure because of poor training, lack of facilities and lack of protocols, not how the Commissioner is appointed.

I take issue with several aspects of the Bill. It purports to be concerned with the appointment of senior members of An Garda Síochána and the Garda Commissioner, but it extends its reach to all areas of the public service. That is not a problem but there must be an holistic approach to how it is done and we need to consider that seriously. The Bill creates the risk of politicising rather than de-politicising the appointment of the Commissioner by bringing it to the Dáil for a vote. That is how the public will see it. There is also the risk that very few will want to put their names forward to be humiliated in public if the Dáil does not approve the appointment.

It is important to take time to consider how best to move forward. I welcome the process that will start on Friday. The public, the Garda and people who have made allegations will be well served by an authority that has everybody’s confidence. I welcome this debate but it is premature. We need time to make sure the new Garda authority is a success and has public approval.

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