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

I suggest to the Deputy that what the public will find extraordinary is that she, as a member of the Committee of Public Accounts, which this morning discussed for two and a half hours how it would approach an examination of this issue, has already made up her mind on the issue of Templemore while it is still before the committee. I suggest to her that what the public will find quite extraordinary is that, without waiting for the evidence regarding the issue, she, as a member of the committee, has given an opinion on the final outcome.

Quite clearly, the issues that have arisen at Templemore underline the need for the reform to which everyone in this House is committed and to which the last Government was committed, which was shown by the establishment of the Policing Authority. This was the first time there has been such oversight, the first time there have been public hearings regarding An Garda Síochána and the first time appointments have been made independently of Government - assistant commissioners appointed already and chief superintendents being appointed. No other Government except this one set that in place, so do not talk to me about not being committed to reform. No other Government has supported An Garda Síochána with the resources as this Government and the previous one has done. We are determined to ensure the reform takes place. A modernisation programme is in place for the first time-----

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