Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

It is relevant because if the Minister gave too many powers away to the Commissioner, we might find more rationalisation, including in east Limerick, which might affect us all directly.

I refer to external associations mentioned in the Bill. With the accession of the new member states, there should be a more comprehensive police force in the European Union not taking responsibility from the Garda Síochána, but in addition to it and having responsibility for international crime, drugs, people trafficking, money laundering, pornography and the Internet. It could be a comprehensive, united European police force similar to Interpol but more effective and better interlinked with all the police services in Europe. If laws were more streamlined to ensure an opportunity to travel across borders in pursuit of criminals, we would be going in the right direction.

I welcome the involvement of local policing committees. Many submissions have been made in this regard. There is some concern about section 17 and maybe the Minister can clarify the position. It reads: "An association established under subsection (1) must be independent of and not associated with any body or person outside the Garda Síochána". Those organisations have nominating rights. Members of the Oireachtas should not be excluded from having consultations with those nominating bodies.

I thank the Minister for this progressive step. This is the most important legislation brought forward by a Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and I am delighted the Minister is doing so in this House. I congratulate him.