Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I may just simply say, because the main points I had were prepared, that sometimes we take for granted some of what functions so properly in this country - that we have a Parliament that meets, a Judiciary that is independent and a policing body that works and maintains the rule of law. These things are very fragile. We take them for granted because we are, in fact, one of the oldest functioning democracies in Europe and around the world. These extremely important functions are goals for which other countries have strived and are incapable of getting on a firm footing. Take the idea that the Garda will investigate a Minister or a Deputy and that Deputies are afraid, and rightly so, and do not feel comfortable or competent to interfere in a Garda investigation. Under no circumstances would I feel it in any way possible to telephone a judge to try to interfere in a case.

These are basic aspects of the rule of law for which countries strive and which can take a very long time to build up. We should never get complacent. If we have been analysed and found to have flaws - which have been clearly found in our relationship between the Executive, in this instance the Minister for Justice and Equality, and the policing authority - and we can improve on this and keep that accountability, then we must do so. We can never become complacent or take for granted that which other countries have simply failed to attain or are incapable of having and which history has shown us can be torn down much more quickly than can ever be built up. I therefore welcome this Bill as one element of the infrastructure which will do that, in tandem with the Garda authority which will get up and running. We will be in a much better place as a result.

A person just needs to talk to gardaí to see the bruising of morale that has happened in the Garda Síochána. This is not, to be honest, due simply to the scandal. It is also due to the level of resources over the last number of years and the difficulties gardaí have been facing in terms of their wages, their working hours and the fact that they cannot get a car so that they can do their job. This Bill puts in place a very robust platform on which we can build to get back to a properly working police force with the necessary morale, resources and accountability to ensure it is effective, trusted and always seen as an important and reliable part of the community.

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