Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We had a lot more in our Bill and would go a great deal further. With respect to the Government's position, we have given it the benefit of the doubt as to its intentions and how it will go about things. However, we are somewhat disappointed to date, and I wonder why the legislative programme for 2014 does not include the policing authority Bill, which had been promised. We were even told that the new Garda Commissioner would not be chosen until the policing authority was able to have an input into the process. That may still stand, but we have heard information to the contrary of late. It is very important that the selection of the new Commissioner is completely non-political. In fact, it would be better if the Government did not introduce a new policing authority if it does not intend to depoliticise it. The established parties are very keen to keep their control over the Garda Síochána, which I find worrying given that many of the problems we have witnessed over the last number of years have their roots in the fact that matters are too politicised.

I am also worried about the fact that the acting Commissioner, Noirín O'Sullivan, claims she is doing things differently and that things are being improved. Sadly, complaints about things happening, even over the summer, continue to stream into our offices. Much of it is very disappointing. It is too bad. We have not put much of it in the public domain for various reasons. There are difficulties with some things, though obviously in time we will make some matters public. I am also disappointed that the Minister has turned down an opportunity to allow section 106 to be used to consider the Corrib issue. GSOC itself asked for this under the former Government. It would demonstrate a new intent on behalf of the new Minister for Justice and Equality if she had a rethink on this. Terrible things happened at Corrib. Innocent protesters were treated incredibly badly, and that must be looked at. It is a stain on policing in the State and will remain so until we deal with it. I do not see the logic in the Government refusing to do this. To sweep it under the carpet does not augur well.

I will cover one of the cases that has come to my attention. I have spoken for hours with a gentleman from Kilkenny who bought a large public house premises in the centre of the city six or seven years ago.

He returned home from America and he has been shocked by how he is being treated by An Garda Síochána. I have listened to him for hours and, sadly, it has gone on over the summer as well. Nothing has changed despite the fact that the Commissioner has changed. My fear is, first, does the Acting Commissioner have control over the people below her? Second, can we possibly expect much to change when the vast majority of the hierarchy that has been in place for the past few years is still there? In contrast to the previous speaker, I am adamant that if the Government wants to see real change in An Garda Síochána, a good starting point will be a new Commissioner from outside the State.

I will read a summary this gentleman sent me this week. I will redact most of the names in it - he has named a lot of gardaí and for the moment I will redact those.

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