Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that documentation has been given to the Committee of Public Accounts by Mr. John Barrett which completely contradicts and undermines the account given by Commissioner O'Sullivan last Thursday about her conversations with Mr. Barrett over financial irregularities in Templemore. This latest development today comes after contradictory statements from Commissioner O'Sullivan and the executive director of human resources, the aforementioned Mr. Barrett.

Why will the Taoiseach not end the never-ending crisis and scandal surrounding the senior management of An Garda Síochána? This latest controversy follows scandals involving homicide figures, the falsification of 1 million breath tests, and the 14,700 unsafe convictions for driving offences. The Taoiseach will recall that all of this was preceded by allegations of a smear campaign against the brave whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

I am also concerned about the Taoiseach's refusal to act on detailed information which I gave him 18 months ago about the killing of Garda Tony Golden and other issues arising from that dreadful event. The Taoiseach and his Government have resisted all attempts directed by these matters to bring in the deep-rooted reforms that are required. The Taoiseach may say he is bringing in reforms now, but he has done so with extreme reluctance and only after serial scandals. His reforms do not go far enough. The last Government led by the Taoiseach voted against a detailed submission by Sinn Féin for root and branch reform of An Garda Síochána, including an independent policing board similar to that proposed by the Patten Commission in the North.

Let us be clear, the Taoiseach was not on his own in all of this. Way back in 2005, Teachta Ó Snodaigh made the same case to a Fianna Fáil-led Government and to the then Minister, Michael McDowell. At that time, Michael McDowell argued that there was not a level of corruption, incompetence or bad faith within An Garda Síochána which would warrant this. The Taoiseach made exactly the same argument ten years later. Now, in 2017, he has reiterated his confidence in the Garda Commissioner. The Commissioner's position in untenable. It is not easy to understand why the Taoiseach will not remove her from office. There is no rational explanation. The majority of parties in Leinster House want the Commissioner to go. The Taoiseach needs to act in the best interests of An Garda Síochána and for the sake of the people of this State. The Commissioner needs to go now. Will the Taoiseach finally accept this reality and relieve Nóirín O'Sullivan of her duties as Commissioner if she refuses to resign?

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