Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That can never be allowed to happen in the State again. We can never again have an unhealthy political relationship between the most senior police officer in the State and the Minister for Justice and Equality of the day, whereby they see it as being in their interests to protect each other and circle the wagons to protect themselves from criticism. The people who were failed most by that approach were the men and women of An Garda Síochána on the front line. In the future we need an independent approach free from political interference, which includes people who are representative of society, making decisions. The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality had an opportunity to examine the models used in the North and Scotland. The Minster of State will shortly have the chance to read our recommendations for change.

I commend Deputy Niall Collins. I have worked with him and other members of the Opposition closely in the past while to try to bring forward alternative solutions. It is welcome that the Government will support the Bill and not vote against it on Second Stage next Tuesday. The Minister of State is committed to equality and reform. He now has an opportunity in the post he holds to see it through. If there is any resistance from anybody to the necessary reform which needs to happen or any delay or procrastination, I ask the Minister of State to fight the good fight and make sure the change materialises. Crises emerge in the evolution of a state and it sometimes takes these moments for change to happen. There is an opportunity to see through the reforms which are necessary, win back the confidence of the public in the justice system of the State and, most of all, to boost the morale of the men and women of An Garda Síochána, the vast majority of whom have done no wrong and serve us honourably and courageously every day. If they see change happening, it will be the best thing we have done.

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