Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the provision in section 38 that the Garda Commissioner shall submit a report to the Minister not later than four months after the end of each year. The Minister is to be applauded on that. I have seen local authorities issue reports 12 months after the end of a year which is ridiculous. By the time such reports are published, they are out of date and irrelevant. Although it seems inherent in the public-service psyche to shy away from deadlines, we should require the same of the public sector as we do of private companies. Businesses must comply with clear deadlines in companies legislation or fines are imposed. It is incongruous to have a laissez-faire approach in the public service.

I am not sufficiently au fait with the matter to know what might inhibit publication of a report by the Minister. I am inclined to think there should be provision for discretion as a report might contain material, the publication of which the Minister or his or her officials felt should be delayed. I agree that such a delay should only take place in extenuating circumstances. While I do not know if an annual Garda report would contain material which would require revision by the Department, the imposition of a 30-day limit could be very restrictive in a scenario in which a difficulty arose.