Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is unfair for the Minister to try to suggest that we were saying everything was wrong. We are addressing the problems that exist. We acknowledge that some things are being done well. We also acknowledge that many gardaí do a great job and really care. We are seeking to address those who have misbehaved. We are simply reacting to and reflecting what we hear from the public. Of course many among the public have confidence in the Garda.

Some people have suffered due to malpractice by some members of the force. Sadly too many of these members are at a senior rank to be concerned about it. Bruce Springsteen's song "Atlantic City" often springs to my mind when people come to me with complaints. A Line in the song is:

Down here it's just winners and losers and

Don't get caught on the wrong side of that line

There is no doubt many gardaí do a great job, much good work is being done and many people are happy with the force. However, we are addressing the problems being brought to our attention in respect of which things are not quite so rosy.

The amendments were not ruled out of order. Before the Minister came to the House yesterday, the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, was sitting in her place. At the time I expressed surprise that this Bill and the Garda authority Bill were not being considered together as part of a larger Bill. There will be overlap between the two and we will be undoing some of this when we come to dealing with the new Garda authority Bill. I realise the new policing authority is probably running behind the anticipated schedule of last summer. I accept that there is a time-gap between the two tranches of legislation but it would have been better if the two had been done together.

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