Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We should respect the Chair.

I thank Senators Ardagh, Conway-Walsh, Humphreys and Boyhan who raised the Garda Síochána issue. All of us are united in considering the issues to be most disturbing and corrosive to the morale of An Garda Síochána and the way in which it is perceived by the public. This needs to be arrested and reversed. Government has committed to an external and thorough review of An Garda Síochána. Public confidence in An Garda Síochána should not be waning because every day many fine men and women do a huge job in difficult and dangerous situations. There is a culture within the Garda that needs to be changed. The revelations last week are disturbing. No one can stand over a misrepresentation of data or misuse or manipulation of statistics. I am sure the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Commissioner are committed to rectifying matters. The Tánaiste has met the Garda Commissioner, and the chair of the Policing Authority, Josephine Feehily, is also to meet the Garda Commissioner.The Garda Commissioner will come before the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on Thursday. In that context, it is important for the Oireachtas to have a thorough discussion to probe the situation with regard to An Garda Síochána as we find it. It is important to recognise that gardaí have seen changes, particularly during the last Government's term in office. What has happened has been most unacceptable. The Taoiseach has said today that he is "very unhappy".

I will be happy to accept the amendment to the Order of Business that has been proposed by Senator Humphreys. I propose that the debate in question should take place at 8.30 p.m. The Tánaiste will be in the Dáil this evening. I propose that we accept the amendment and that we have one speaker per group with the Tánaiste in the House this evening. To be fair, the Business Committee of the Dáil was discussing its plans as we were speaking on the Order of Business here. The Tánaiste will be in the Lower House this evening. In light of the business and the commitments we have in this House, I am proposing that we have a debate at 8.30 p.m. One representative of each group will engage with the Tánaiste on the matter. I think I am proposing a fair accommodation, given that the issue was raised in the House this afternoon.

Senators Leyden, Mulherin, O'Donnell, Gavan, Ó Ríordáin, Higgins and Conway raised the issue of Bus Éireann. I join Senator Conway in saying that, in my experience, Bus Éireann's drivers and those who work on the buses in Cork are tremendous ambassadors for the company. None of them wants to be on strike. As I have said previously in the House, it is incumbent on all sides to engage, re-engage and emerge into talks. A resolution is required, not least for the staff of Bus Éireann, the company and the members of the travelling public who have been discommoded. We all accept that the current Bus Éireann model certainly has difficulties. There is an issue with the Expressway service. Equally, as Senator O'Donnell said, there is an issue with the amount of money being made available under the public service obligation, PSO, scheme. Private companies do not have to take the free travel pass. All of us who live in the real world recognise that changes are required. People are committed to wanting to see this dispute resolved. I appeal to all sides to engage and re-engage. We can all go down the line of politicising this dispute and trying to be populist and to score points against the Minister, Deputy Ross. A fair number of people here are good at tweeting and taking selfies.