Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be very brief because my colleagues, Deputies O'Callaghan, O'Loughlin and Thomas Byrne, have outlined where we stand on this issue. Everyone in this House must accept that recent revelations on policing matters are most disturbing. The issue of the million non-existent breath-test cases in particular is constantly mentioned to me by the public. That the police force that we believe exists to protect and look after us could be responsible for wrongful convictions is appalling. These problems did not arise overnight. If every one of the 158 Members of this House is to be honest, we have all heard issues about certain members of An Garda Síochána over a long period of time.

It is very important to point out, as many Members have, that there are very many good serving members of the force who do so much in their communities and to assist communities. We should also remember that, in today's world, gardaí are dealing with far more difficult situations than previously. I often think of gardaí who have to attend domestic violence and family situations. Those are very telling, trying and difficult situations. Ordinary members of the force have told me that they have a terribly disturbing effect on them. That is a huge issue. We must also accept what gardaí have to face when they tackle people in situations involving drug use and abuse.

I believe the Government needs to take immediate steps to rectify the real and substantial crisis of confidence in An Garda Síochána. As Deputy O'Callaghan pointed out both earlier today and previously, we want the Government to request that the Policing Authority assess the role needed to rectify this real and substantial crisis of confidence. We also want a major role for the Policing Authority and the establishment of an independent commission on An Garda Síochána that will examine and report on this situation. It is critical that we deal with many of the situations that have arisen. We need to put confidence back into the force. While people are not particularly surprised by recent revelations, they are rather shocked.

See this speech in context