John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In recent hours, the Garda Commissioner has gone on the record saying that proposed legislation to overhaul oversight of An Garda Síochána would lead to him spending more time reporting to oversight bodies than overseeing policing and leading the service. He said that the policing, security and community safety Bill 2021, as it currently stands, would lead to dysfunctional micromanagement and that the Bill would grant powers to the proposed new Garda ombudsman which would be disproportionate and unconstitutional and which would not withstand an expensive and time-consuming test in the courts. Does the Minister agree that it is an unhealthy sign in our democracy that the Garda Commissioner feels unheard by Government and is compelled to address an Oireachtas committee to this effect? Is the Government listening to the Garda Commissioner's concerns?

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