Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A week ago, the Government announced the full membership of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland chaired by Ms Kathleen O'Toole. We welcome the individuals who have been nominated to serve on that commission. The commission is a sensible idea and will benefit policing in Ireland. For once, we will have an opportunity to look at policing without having to do so through the microcosm of a crisis or particular past event. It is very important that we do not lose sight of the excellent work which has been done in the past. There is sometimes a tendency in Ireland to call upon a body to conduct a review in order to give the appearance that we are doing something. A huge amount of excellent work was done by the Garda Inspectorate and is detailed in its 2015 report, Changing Policing in Ireland. The most important aspect of any report is not its drafting but the way in which it is followed-up to ensure that its recommendations are implemented. The Tánaiste mentioned a number of recommendations contained in the report. We need to be satisfied that they will be implemented. Many of the recommendations are the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. We must ensure that there is another entity within the Garda or Government that will ensure that these recommendations are being implemented. Unless we have that, there is no point in having many reports.

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