Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I am slightly reluctant to talk about the gardaí because I have been doing some informal work for them in regard to management, other such matters and the giving of general advice. It is important to underpin the morale of the Garda. At a time when it is being buffeted from all sides as it reorganises and reforms, it is also important for it to see the body politic is behind it.

If we are to have a debate on the Garda, which would be a good idea, it might be sensible to wait until Inspector O'Toole has produced her next report. I noticed in the newspapers yesterday that she said it would be on policing and the organisation of policing into the future. That would give us a focus for a debate. By that time, my group might have a report as well on management issues, which might be helpful.

I wish to say something which is linked to the MacEntee report. It is unfair to judge a police service of the 1970s by the standards of what is done today. Things which are taken for granted now and which are basic tools of investigation were in their infancy in 1973. For example, DNA, forensic testing of one type or another and data processing were in their infancy. We have seen police force after police force in Britain going through the trauma of handling huge investigations and having to learn from them. It is unfair to castigate today's Garda or even the people at the time because they did not know what we now know.

I agree with Senator Brian Hayes that there is an enormous need, North and South, to deal with the hurt of victims, to sustain them and to help them find settlement to the extent we can. I do not believe one can do that by way of serial inquiries. If there was one person in this country I would have chosen to find out what happened, it would have been Mr. Paddy MacEntee who is a most able lawyer and a resolute and persistent man. If he cannot get at the truth, perhaps it is not possible to do so for many reasons. Rather than delude people that we can get at the truth, perhaps we should look at other ways to help them to bear the cross they must carry.