Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Norris for sharing time, although at times trying to stop him from speaking is like trying to stop a runaway train.

I thank the Minister for the frankness of his statement. It is the first time we have seen the crime statistics, even in their provisional format, being announced so quickly. The Minister's predecessors certainly did not do it and we often received the statistics 18 months later. The statistics are bad, but it does not matter how many laws and regulations are forced through this House and the Lower House. The Garda Síochána has a huge responsibility, not only to enforce the law but also to change their practices where they are not working.

I concur with what Senator Mansergh said about the need for a Patten-style police reform process to examine ways of improving policing and making it more efficient. I do not say that in order to be critical of the Garda Síochána in any way, but every large organisation or bureaucracy needs to be examined from time to time. One of the benefits of the Patten reforms in Northern Ireland, even though it is a totally different situation, was in-depth analysis by outside police experts from other jurisdictions. We need the same thing in this country. I do not wish to be critical of the Garda Síochána, but it requires greater efficiency and people who are not pulling their weight need to be told that is the case. In addition, those who are doing a good job, such as the young community garda to whom Senator Norris referred, should be given further incentives to continue doing so.