Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is unusual for all of us to echo one point, but what Deputy Boyd Barrett said earlier about those appointments is true. It is the case with all of us in here, so I urge the Taoiseach to take it seriously.

I wish to raise two issues. The Garda Commissioner expressed serious concerns regarding policing reforms. He told the justice committee that the powers granted to the new Garda ombudsman under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2021 was "disproportionate, unconstitutional and will not withstand an expensive and time-consuming test in the courts". That is completely at odds with the Government, so what is going to happen? It is very unusual.

Where are we at as regards implementation of the future of policing report and the Policing Authority? We support the minority report. We will not support anything that allows a situation where senior appointments in An Garda Síochána are being made by the Commissioner. That must be done independently. It is the very reason we set up the Policing Authority in the first place.

See this speech in context