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

What An Garda Síochána has arrived at is the scale of the audit. I agree with Deputy Shortall that it is unsatisfactory that at this point, we do not have answers as to how this happened, who was involved and why it happened. I want to get those answers as quickly as possible and I agree with Deputy Shortall that people must be held accountable. Of course, people should be disciplined and if people have to be removed, of course, they should be removed. I would expect the Garda Commissioner to do that when and if those facts emerge. Clearly, the scale of what has happened is enormous.

In respect of Deputy Shortall's point about culture, this has long been identified by the Garda Inspectorate reports. Some months ago, tenders were put out regarding a cultural audit that is being undertaken. The Policing Authority will have oversight of that. This is another attempt to get to the bottom of the issues that maintain the type of behaviour we have seen in recent weeks.

In response to Deputy Catherine Murphy, I would say that we must build on the reforms that are already in place. It is not about negating the reforms that have already been made. It will be about building on those reforms. I do not believe that it undermines them to say that we need this overall examination because of the scale of what has emerged.

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