Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I agreed to help the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform implement whatever was passed by the Oireachtas. He very decently said that I could preserve my own independence and was quite free, and this was the context within which any discussion took place. It is a matter for the Oireachtas to decide and no one person has a greater right to dictate or declare the decision.

The Garda Síochána Bill should not be put on ice too much. The ombudsman only represents one part the legislation. More than anything else, the Morris report makes clear that the management of the Garda needs to be modernised, which is what the Minister is trying to achieve and it would be regrettable if one were to lose the tailwind behind that move. Changes could be made, but I am not in favour of putting the Bill on the shelf.