Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We read in today's newspapers that the Tánaiste, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, yesterday secured Cabinet approval to establish an independent root and branch review of An Garda Síochána. The Taoiseach is aware that the Labour Party published draft terms of reference for such a review last weekend. We have seen no similar draft terms of reference from the Government. I will meet with the Tánaiste later today and I understand other bilateral meetings with the other leaders will also happen. We will support this process if we are satisfied it is fully independent and will lead to the necessary reforms that there is a consensus on in the House and among the public. At this stage, it is important the review gets under way. What I have not seen in the papers is any urgency to implement the existing proposals for reform.

We have spoken in this Chamber many times about the many existing recommendations the Garda Inspectorate has published. We debated them during my time in Government and more recently in this House. There is no recent implementation update on those groundbreaking, important, specific recommendations. It is clear to me the commitment to reform at management level within An Garda Síochána is limited. In addition to our proposals on an independent review of An Garda Síochána, we proposed that the powers of the Policing Authority be expanded. These powers must include giving the Policing Authority the capacity to direct An Garda Síochána to implement the proposals made by the Garda Inspectorate. I am glad to see this proposal has gathered support from other parties in the House. Does the Taoiseach agree this change to the powers of the Policing Authority is needed? Will he task the Tánaiste with drafting the necessary legislative changes to allow this as a matter of urgency and in the meantime will he arrange for an urgent implementation update to be published on each of the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate setting out what has been implemented to date, which ones are in the process of being implemented, including a clear timeline for each, and what are simply being ignored?

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