Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On that issue, it was disappointing that the new Garda Commissioner did not welcome all the points raised in the Garda Inspectorate's report. She denied, for example, that crime figures were being massaged, which is completely at variance with the conclusions of the inspectorate's report.

I raised a point regarding the parochial nature of the terms of reference of the Guerin review. The Minister is correct that Mr. Guerin's investigation was confined to the Cavan-Monaghan area. Little progress has been made since the introduction by the then Minister, Mr. Michael McDowell, of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 in response to a case in County Donegal. The 2005 legislation was clearly not the answer to all of our problems. We know from what has occurred in recent years that serious problems persist in the Garda. We are receiving information from three new Garda whistleblowers and it is frightening to note what continues to take place. The things going on in the midlands, Cork and Limerick are every bit as bad, if not worse, than what went on in Cavan-Monaghan. The Minister has an opportunity to carry out a complete root and branch of the Garda and how it operates. A failure to introduce root and branch reform will result in sticking plasters being used to tackle serious problems.

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