Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is funding to make the various entities open and accountable, to get rid of the culture that led to the Act in 2005 that was never a success, and to change the various structures again because accountability failed. Not by the ordinary gardaí on the ground, let me say. My introduction to the Dáil was the O'Higgins report, which I know the Minister also read. I read the Morris tribunal report. I read the Smithwick report. On every single level, there was no accountability for the culture of secrecy and protecting the institutions rather than not human rights or garda rights. I was horrified at what happened to Sergeant McCabe. That was my introduction to the Dáil.

We are now looking at putting these structures into a new Act that will be commenced tomorrow to change the culture and bring in accountability. What do we find? I was at the protest in Galway yesterday. I could not describe a more peaceful, dignified and silent protest to highlight the genocide in Gaza. Something similar happened in Dublin, and like the other TDs, we have got repeated reports of appalling, disproportionate behaviour by the Garda. As a new Minister and with his background in law, I wish for the Minister to comment on this. Strip-searching and cavity-searching of women who were out peacefully protesting against a genocide - how can that happen in the 21st century when we are talking about structures to bring in accountability? I go back, a Cheann Comhairle. I have not strayed at all from the topic because they are the topics.

Instead of GSOC, we will now have Fiosrú. I was talking with my colleague here about the word "fiosrú". It is a strange word because it is just "inquire". I am not really sure what we do with the Irish language as opposed to giving it meaning and punch.

Many people have criticised GSOC. Whatever about GSOC being accountable, what I have read about repeatedly is the failure to fund it. Year after year, GSOC produced an annual report, just like SIPO, and told us it was underfunded, under-resourced and could not really do its job properly. As well as changing the structures, we need to commit to funding properly.

I will finish on community policing. Like every Deputy, I want to see more garda síochána - the hint is in the name "Garda Síochána", which means guardians of the peace - on our streets so we can feel safer. All of the time the language is changing and we see fewer gardaí on the street. I stop in my tracks or on my bicycle when I see gardaí to welcome their presence.

See this speech in context