Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I support the amendment in principle. The Bill is flawed in not having a representative from the Garda Representative Association or the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors on the audit committee. A submission was made, arguing for one person, designated by the Garda representative bodies, to represent their interests on the committee. I do not see the rationale behind having a Garda Deputy Commissioner appointed to the committee while no member of the force will be. Maybe the experience in other jurisdictions was different. Departmental officials would have studied similar legislation in Britain and Northern Ireland.