Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

It is a great protection for a Garda Commissioner when he goes before an Oireachtas committee, perhaps the Committee of Public Accounts. When confronted with a question as to whether the policy of his Minister is right or wrong, he is in a position to say he is not entitled to respond and should not be asked to do so. That is a fair protection.

The Garda Commissioner is bound to be truthful. Commissioners are men of integrity and one day the role may be filled by women of integrity. They should be in a position to come into the Oireachtas and decline to answer questions by reference to the need to serve the Government of the day with regard to the discharge of its policies. That may not be fashionable. It would be interesting to know the points on which the present Commissioner disagrees with me with regard to matters I raise publicly.