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

I will not comment on a potential situation. The Government has said it has confidence in the Garda Commissioner to get on with the job it has asked her to do. She got her position as a result of an independent international competition. She has been asked to undertake important reforms of An Garda Síochána, which are under way, which need to be addressed and she has outlined a five-year plan for their implementation. I am making sure that is overseen by the Policing Authority. She needs to get on with that job. The Government said today that because of the range of issues that have emerged concerning An Garda Síochána, we should establish an independent commission similar to the Patten commission to analyse precisely the future of An Garda Síochána. I hope Deputies will work with me on this, and several parties have made this suggestion.

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