Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister said she could not conceive of a situation in which the Minister or Government would not give GSOC permission to investigate where it was perceived that the Garda Commissioner was behaving very poorly. Although she placed much emphasis on the fact that the Government rather than the Minister would have the power to make some of the decisions, there is little comfort in this, given that the Government of the day has a majority. While it is good that issues are debated in the House, the decisions do not necessarily change very often. Much the same can be said of the Minister's role in this regard.

It is good to have a debate and for us to have our say, even if we do not change the final outcome. The definition of democracy is "you can say what you like but you do what you are told".

The Minister says she cannot conceive of such a situation but I recall for several months in here we challenged the former Minister for Justice and Equality on the issue of racial profiling in the Garda Síochána. We had some serious evidence of it but the Minister took the position, and said in here, the Garda Commissioner says there is no racial profiling and that is good enough for me. That is the reply we got. That is scary. The present Minister may say she cannot conceive of a situation arising where she would not do the right thing and give GSOC permission to investigate where it should but she will not always be the Minister for Justice and Equality. The person who comes after her might not behave as well as the Minister might like him or her to behave.

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