Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak about this Bill. I thank and commend Deputy Niall Collins for bringing it before the House. It is very important and brings the issue of reform and change back onto the agenda. I will refer to details of the Bill later in my contribution. It is not just a question of reform for the Government; all Members of the House have to lead on the reform agenda. Above all, most of us want professionalism, accountability and a good quality public service from the Garda. It is important to say this in the debate.

In recent months we have all seen the urgent need for change. All citizens, not just the Government, have to be involved. Trust in An Garda Síochána, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Government has been seriously damaged. The people have to regain trust and senior gardaí, in particular, have to earn their respect. That is why the Bill is part of that process. It is welcome that Government stated it does not intend to oppose the Bill, but I also hope it does not kick it to touch and leave it, as happened last year when my Down's Syndrome equality of access Bill was accepted by the Government and on which we are still awaiting action.

I referred to the need for trust and respect. In the past year or two people lost faith when they saw what was happening in A Garda Síochána and with the Minister for Justice and Equality. We have major problems in the State. There is a drugs crisis. Some 750 young people aged between 16 and 35 years who are addicted to heroin and other drugs are in the centre of the capital. They are walking the streets and there are no services available for them because the Government closed them down. They are damaging not only themselves but also small businesses and the tourism industry. We have seen people being shot on the streets because of drugs. We have seen parents being shot outside schools because of drugs and gang wars. Communities across the State have been devastated by the drugs crisis, yet the Government and the Minister of State have their heads in the sand. They need to wake up and hear about what is going on in communities. Whole streets are being intimidated. That is the reality. In the past week I have met innocent working class families who have been intimidated by a gang leader who leads a gang of between 20 and 60. That is what is going on and why we need reform, good quality gardaí and legislation such as this Bill. What is happening is not acceptable and it is not just a question of crime; it is also a major health issue.

That is why I am telling the Government to get off the pot and appoint a Minister with direct responsibility for drugs. Help those who want to help the people on the ground. We need to do that to solve the problem. There are only 30 beds for detoxification in 2014 despite the fact that we have an addiction problem affecting around 15,000 people. That is the level we are talking about. While we are talking about Garda reform, we must also deal with the real issues, which is why direct responsibility for drugs should be given to a Minister. The Government needs to get its act together to deal with broader policing issues also.

The Bill will beef up the work of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and help to end the pretend reform agenda we have witnessed in recent months. It seeks to amend the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to make the Garda Commissioner responsible to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. It is an important idea and I commend Deputy Niall Collins on including it in the legislation. We need that kind of accountability in a modern police force. There should be no worry about this among the Garda Síochána. The vast majority of gardaí to whom one speaks on the ground want the force to be accountable. While there are elements that need a good shaking and some who need to be rooted out, fresh young people are joining the force with a strong sense of public service. They must be promoted, developed and nurtured, rather than swallowed up in a rotten system as we have seen in the past.

While we are discussing the Garda Commissioner, I note the current debate on the advertisements for interviews for the post. I have a concern that it is being advertised internationally. It is important that citizens have total trust in the Garda Commissioner, particularly when he or she is dealing with intelligence issues. I would have concerns if someone from outside came in. People might come from an outside state with another agenda. I am not being paranoid. We have seen in our own history over the last 40 years that intelligence services were up to their necks in dirty tricks, bombings and shootings. I raise the issue as it is my view that we should look for someone with a strong policing record in the State. That might not be politically correct to say in this day and age, but it is important.

Deputy Collins's legislation seeks to close the gap between the Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, which is very important. The tension and grievances that have existed have been appalling and unacceptable. We must rebalance that, as Deputy Collins says. There is no point in reforming the Garda if one does not reform the Minister for Justice and Equality and modern politics. Both things go together side by side - reform of our political system and reform of the Garda Síochána. The Government has let itself down on this matter. We saw the shenanigans of Deputy Alan Shatter as Minister, the whistleblowers and many other things that have been very nasty indeed. The important thing here is to ensure that political reform matches Garda reform. I support strongly the provisions in the Bill which empower GSOC to enquire into the policies, procedures and practices adopted by the Garda and to allow it to review, comment and recommend changes. This all fits nicely into the reform agenda.

When one looks at Garda numbers in light of the 2011 census, one can see there is approximately one full-time garda for every 349 people in the State. That calculation excludes members of the Garda Reserve and civilian staff, but includes all ranks. It is something we must examine. How many hours of an eight-hour shift does a garda spend on the streets? I remember being in London a number of years ago to study a community policing project. We spoke to community police officers on the ground. Of their eight-hour shifts among the inner-city flats complexes, six hours were spent walking the beat in the community, talking to families, helping people strung out on drugs, and getting them into detox centres. I saw at first hand a very good example of community policing. Can any Garda Commissioner put his or her hand on his or her heart and set out the number of hours of an eight-hour shift that a garda spends in the community meeting and working with people? We have 13,000 full-time members of the force and I welcome the fact that there has been an increase in recruitment.

I commend Deputy Niall Collins on his reforming legislation and I will support it strongly.

See this speech in context