I pay tribute to the loyalty and service which the Garda Síochána has given and continues to give this State and its people. I was gratified by the findings of the recent public attitude survey commissioned by the Garda research unit which showed an 87% general public satisfaction rating with how the community is policed. However, we live in a world of change and the Garda Síochána must change along with the society it serves. I regard it as one of the highest priorities of my period in office to foster and support that trust between the Garda Síochána and the community and to do all I can to ensure that the values of the service endure in a modern setting. We all want a situation to prevail where police action is characterised by the highest standards of professionalism, probity and respect for the law and the Constitution. The maintenance of these standards in an era of change will require new structures and procedures to be put in place and principal among these is the proposed Garda inspectorate which the Government has committed itself to introduce.