Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

Why has the Government not ordered Committee Stage of the Garda Síochána Bill 2004 given that it concluded Second Stage on 11 March? It has taken seven months for the Government to put it back on the Order Paper. I raise this in light of the Government's recent announcement of the dismissal of Superintendent Kevin Lennon following the conclusions of the Morris tribunal. This is a serious matter. Tribunals into allegations of Garda corruption in Donegal or anywhere else would not be needed if we had a person similar to Nuala O'Loan and the powers her office has in Northern Ireland in this jurisdiction.

The Garda Síochána Bill provides such a model to investigate complaints against members of the force. The Government should take Committee Stage of the Bill so that we can put the structures in place to deal with allegations of Garda corruption rather than scapegoating a number of named individuals as a result of this debacle. The Bill is needed now, not in seven months. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has regularly voiced his disapproval of the legislative process on radio and television because it takes so long for Bills to get through the Oireachtas. This House has always done its work in an efficient way. We had an excellent Second Stage debate on this Bill with 30 Members contributing and, in fairness to the Minister, he was present for the debate. However, why has the Government not ordered Committee Stage of the Bill so that structures can be put in place to deal with such allegations on a constant basis?

There is a need for the Bill to be brought to Committee Stage and I ask the Leader to order it in the coming weeks. Our party will facilitate her in bringing the matter to a swift conclusion so that the same protection is afforded to our citizens as is afforded to citizens in Northern Ireland.