Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with colleagues in expressing sympathy to the McFadden family, particularly Caren and Eoin, Gabrielle and Áine, on the sad passing of Nicky yesterday. All of us who knew Nicky were aware that she was a special lady. We all felt better having met her and conversed and interacted with her. She was an outstanding public representative, with lots of ability, who was very much in tune with her constituents, which she demonstrated as a councillor, Senator and Deputy. As we all know, Nicky displayed enormous courage during her harrowing illness, during which time she touched many lives and gave great hope and courage to others. I am honoured to have known her and to have helped in a small way in her successful campaign in 2007 for election to Seanad Éireann. She will be greatly missed throughout Leinster House but the people who will miss her most will be her family, close friends and staff. May her gentle soul rest in peace.

In terms of the main issue of the day, it is becoming obvious that there is a need for a root and branch review of the justice system in this country. There is little doubt but that the Minister has inherited an amazing amount of dysfunctionality in terms of the administration of justice. The Commission of Investigation has a major job of work to do to get to the bottom of a lot of issues. As stated by others, there is a real urgency in that regard if we are to restore confidence in the administration of justice and support for the Garda Síochána, the majority of whom are doing an amazing job on the ground. We need gardaí to be concentrated on cracking crime in this country and to focus on the core concerns of the people of Ireland, namely, a justice system that works and a garda force focused on cracking crime.