Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I hope the Minister will reconsider the provisions for voluntary policing in the Bill. Inevitably, there will be far more difficulties than we have at present if local, voluntary community policing is introduced in parallel with the work of the Garda Síochána. Senator Terry mentioned earlier that this was one of her chief concerns and I concur. The Minister should explain to the House why he thinks it necessary to have more power over the Garda Síochána. Why should it be necessary for the Minister to have an input into the selection and appointment of many senior Garda officers? Are we going back to the interference of the Doherty days, with which Senator Leyden might be very familiar? Why does the Minister think it important to direct members of the Garda Síochána? When those who are currently embracing the Bill see the significance of what the Minister is proposing and its follow through, they will have second thoughts. If we politicise the Garda Síochána in line with the Minister's proposal to retain this degree of interference, it will create further difficulties.

The Minister is seeking to introduce reform through this Bill, including the establishment of an independent commission. I hope it will turn out to be as independent as he has indicated — on paper at least — he intends it to be. Whatever reform is necessary should be brought about through support for the Minister's proposals, rather than by domination. If, however, the Minister's reforms mean greater control of and political input into the Garda Síochána, we will, as has happened with previous legislation, have to alter it again in the near future because of these unacceptable aspects.