Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Policing has changed and good police work has changed dramatically and significantly, and for the better.

To say it has not does a disservice to the Garda. The mechanisms by which the force gathers information have changed and the service cannot continue as it is without taking a serious look at how best to use a talented and well trained police force. There will be difficulties and it is not as if the force will not change in the future. Perhaps alterations need to be made and that will be taken into account but this is not being done on a whim by one person. This is very much a process on which there has been massive consultation and the Commissioner believes this is the best way to proceed. Communications and mobility have improved and all these factors must be taken into account. We cannot ignore the significant innovations that have taken place in all our lives. Innovations have been adapted to suit the needs of our police force.