Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much appreciate and welcome what Deputy Ó Ríordáin is trying to do here. There is always an additional onus of responsibility on a disciplined or hierarchical organisation in terms of being even more acutely aware around things like culture, inclusion, support, and empowering people to speak up and to speak out. On the topic of cultural audits, I am happy to get a detailed note to Deputy Ó Ríordáin on this. An Garda Síochána plays an important role. The plan for the prison service later this year will be very important in trying to advance what the Deputy is trying to do. There are some encouraging signs in the organisations. The oversight structures which the gardaí in this country are subject to is important and helpful. We have a Policing Authority and we have an Ombudsman. We are going to debate again next week how to make sure those oversight structures are right in the new legislation. The diversity in An Garda Síochána is really quite important. I met the now retired assistant commissioner Orla McPartlin. When she joined, 3% of the members were female. Now more than 30% are female, as are both deputy commissioners, 50% of assistant commissions, and we had a female Commissioner as well. In the aftermath of the Moody case, I am conscious of the commitments the Commissioner made as well.

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