David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

None of us is happy, but it is a question of honour, decency and standards. We have had scandal after scandal involving the church, the banks and corrupt politicians, including people in this House, and now we have this issue with the Garda. That is a situation which must be addressed. We were told this Government has come in to reform. Where is the reform? The arrogance of the Minister, Deputy Shatter, is replicated throughout this Government. I point to another fact that must be noted. The Government set up the Constitutional Convention and it was required, by resolution of this House, to respond within three months to resolutions of the convention. A resolution was passed, the three months for which expire today, about the presidential election system. The Government has done nothing. It is three months outside the timeline on Dáil reform. Again, it is treating its own institutions with contempt.

With regard to the Garda issue, it is just like the banking scandals, the church scandals and so on. The ordinary person will pay; watch this space. The lawyers will be at it and the Members, I and Joe Soap will be paying for this. There will be retrials. I believe people will sue the State, and we will be picking up the bill.

I am not happy about the process or the timeline of this, and I believe the Minister, Deputy Shatter, should go as soon as possible.

The Government may unravel over this issue. We are watching them explode minute by minute like a fireworks display. If the Government wants to stay in business, it would want to act decisively on this issue today.