Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am absolutely furious about what has happened in this country - just to be very clear. There is nobody in this House more disgusted than anybody else.

Nobody. I am not just a Taoiseach. I am a father. I am a son. I am a husband. Everybody wants to live in a country with zero tolerance, and nobody suggests zero tolerance is some sort of slogan or platitude. Zero tolerance is the cultural change we need to bring about in this country. It requires every single person in this place, in the Judiciary, in the Defence Forces, in our public services, in our homes and in our schools to work to bring it about.

I am extremely proud of the work of the Minister for Justice, a Minister who has applied herself to this more than any Minister that has gone before her. I have watched as she has done that. She is not suggesting, I am not suggesting and nobody here is suggesting - Natasha is certainly not suggesting - that we are anywhere near where we need to be as a country. We are nowhere near it, but the work is under way. I will never, ever regret talking about zero tolerance, because it is only when politicians, including men, start demanding zero tolerance that we will bring about the change.

I have told Deputy Cairns very clearly that we are going to seek an update on the sentencing guidelines. It is urgent that we get them in place. I share that view, as does the Minister.

In relation to the Defence Forces, I have also very clearly said on the record of this House that it is utterly unacceptable that I have to stand here as Taoiseach of this country and I cannot answer the question of how many people with criminal convictions are in the Defence Forces today. That is not acceptable to me. It is not acceptable to the Government. It should not be acceptable to anyone in this House. The Chief of Staff will provide the Tánaiste with a report answering that question. If you are convicted of a criminal offence in the Defence Forces, you should get out of it.

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