John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government might take note of the fact that there are some in the party who might not like that arrangement but go along with the party line in the interests of the country to get business done. That is what we do. The Government had better remember that because its performance in the past few days and on many of the other key issues facing the economy leaves an awful lot to be desired.

With regard to Sergeant Maurice McCabe, it was sad to look at how some members of the Government had behaved. When we look back at when the issue first started and how it had come to the point where the word "disgusting" was used, it was the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who said Sergeant Maurice McCabe was distinguished, not disgusting. There were very few others in the Government who stood up in his defence. This did not just happen in the past few days. It is the result of a culture that we have allowed to take hold in every single Department and agency that states it is bigger than any of us and that serves itself, not the people. That is what has happened. Toda, we are looking at the beginning of the tearing down of that culture and the introduction into the system of humanity, compassion and an acknowledgement that we serve the people.

Sergeant Maurice McCabe deserves better than this debate. The terms of reference of the tribunal should not be rushed into. We need to take account of the common issues that stretch across a number of the whistleblowers who have come forward. We need to understand there is a culture that allowed them to be treated in the way they were. It was interesting to hear Deputy John Deasy say last night what he had told the Taoiseach. It was interesting the hear what former Deputy Pat Rabbitte had to say about being influenced or being told a story by a garda. It is the same with Deputy John Deasy. We should all recognise that around this House for many years, once someone raised his or her head in support of Sergeant McCabe or any whistleblower, there was a nod or a nudge to say it was not the thing to do and that the fellow could not be trusted. Over the years, the story was embellished to take in the accusation of sexual abuse which was pedalled around this House.

I look forward to establishment of the tribunal. I ask the Taoiseach that the terms of reference be extended in order that those involved in the tribunal will understand there was a culture in the treatment of the people concerned long before and since Sergeant Maurice McCabe. I cannot forget the names of Mr. John Wilson, Garda Keith Harrison and the others that have been mentioned. I cannot forget the death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell. Ms Lucia O'Farrell met the Taoiseach and many Members of this House. When one reads the file, one can only ask questions about that Garda investigation and her treatment at the hands of the State by the Director of Public Prosecutions and others. It has to be questioned because the report tells the reader that the State believes it can trample on the rights of people, kick them about, ruin their lives and cause them ill-health and mental health issues. That has to stop.

We have to recognise that the whistleblower legislation we trumpet so much is simply not working because often the very people about whom the complaint is being made are the same ones who investigate the case. We need independence from now on in every single thing we do in this country to restore the confidence the people should have in the institutions of the State. However, the Government has been anything but confident in how it has managed its affairs.

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