Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister made the point that it would be foolish to deviate from the path of reform. It is much more foolish not to realise that we cannot get onto the path if the person riding the bicycle is peddling in the opposite direction. That is the problem and the situation which we are in.

It is incredibly tiresome to be here again discussing this, but Nóirín O'Sullivan is not going to survive and keeping her in the job is making the job of reform more difficult. That is not being personal. It is the Government's fault for appointing her in the first place because contrary to the Minister's protestations that this was best international practice, the criteria laid down for the job was a knowledge of An Garda Síochána, and Nóirín O'Sullivan was the only one who could meet that criteria. The problem was that we had decided we would not get an outsider when an outsider is precisely what was needed because Nóirín O'Sullivan, like many of the Garda hierarchy that was in place, was brought up inside an organisation which is now found wanting of substantial change.

If we needed further evidence, the decision should have been taken after the O'Higgins commission findings and the evidence of the Commissioner's attempt to impugn the reputation of Maurice McCabe. We have another tribunal now about that campaign being orchestrated by the Commissioner. We know her day to day job is being interfered with while she prepares and assembles a cabinet kitchen to defend those allegations.

It comes back to the problem that what is being said in public and done in private are two different things. Most if not practically all, bar one, whistleblowers are on sick leave. Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the people who are making claims to the Charlton tribunal and there is a loss of confidence among the members of the force, members of the public and the majority of Members in this House. It is time for action on it.

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