Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I believe the range of initiatives we have taken will make a difference and begin to address many of the issues to which the Deputy refers. To go back to the case in County Donegal and a number of other reports, various actions have been taken to deal with the issues the Deputy outlined. I also believe the Garda Commissioner is committed to dealing with the points the Deputy makes. While I cannot comment on the individual case he raises, whistleblowers in the force must be treated with respect and their complaints addressed. I believe mechanisms are in place to do this and I want it to happen.

I do not accept the Deputy's description of the review mechanism, which was established by the Government in good faith as an independent process and with terms of reference for dealing with the cases that were being referred to it. Senior and junior counsel have been appointed to examine these cases and provide the best legal opinion possible, having regard to the facts and previous actions that were taken in the cases in question.

We have a number of commissions sitting at present, and comprehensive work has been done in this area by the Garda Inspectorate over a three-year period. I do not believe we need another assessment of an Garda Síochána. Rather, we need to get on with changing the culture as outlined in the Garda Inspectorate report by way of implementation of the changes recommended therein, including addressing the technology issues, which are very basic. That is what we are doing.

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