Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The Bill states that "In subsection (1) 'expertise' means experience, specialised knowledge or qualifications". That does not mean that any garda will be called on. We presume the person called will have expertise in this area. Until a month ago I knew very little about gangland activity. One month ago, Councillor Arthur McDonald asked me to visit Carlow because of the number of bank robberies in the area and the subsequent lack of cash in ATMs. The whole economy was affected by the lack of money. I met a chief superintendent and a detective inspector. A chief superintendent has an overall knowledge of the area. His opinion on the detail of a human being before the court would not stand up to forensic inquisition. It must be the person with the intelligence on the ground. The detective inspector I met spends his day on the road. He is not in an office, he moves around and the person on the road has more knowledge and expertise.

The Bill refers to retired gardaí. A new friend of mine is a former assistant commissioner of the Garda Síochána, Mr. Martin Donnellan.