Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Under the programme for Government, the Government has committed to continued support for victim groups representing victims of the violence in Northern Ireland and to promote reconciliation. Can the Tánaiste please comment on the appointment of Mr. Drew Harris as the Garda Commissioner given the Truth and Reconciliation Platform has described it as a massive step backwards and a hammer blow to victims and survivors of British security services in collusion with loyalist gangs? Mr. Drew Harris has been accused by a judge in Belfast of seriously compromising the historical inquiries team. This issue has to be brought into the open. Are we seriously saying, in the context of the onset of Brexit and all the problems that might bring, that we are going to compromise the historical inquiries team and the cases which relate to historical victims by appointing Mr. Harris to the role of Garda Commissioner without him answering the allegations that have been made against him? Will the Tánaiste consider setting up a special inquiry committee so that the leaders of parties in this House and the survivors of those tragedies can question the new Garda Commissioner about these extraordinarily serious allegations?

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