Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

Part of me would say these agencies, the Garda and so on need to get this sorted out. The Government cannot be intervening left, right and centre in every organisation it establishes that has statutory duties and functions. We need to create a culture in this regard. I fully appreciate the Deputy raising this issue and I will talk to both Ministers in respect of this issue. These organisations have been established by law and there is an obligation on the leadership of both organisations to ensure issues are ironed out and that these arrangements and memorandums of understanding operate properly, efficiently and effectively. That would be my initial response to this. There should be no personality issues involved here and the organisations should work properly in the interests of the citizens and the country. I will raise this issue with the two Ministers.

See this speech in context