Michael McDowell (Independent)

I want to raise on the Order of Business today the need for a full debate in this House on facts and circumstances, some of which have only partly emerged in the media, concerning grave issues relating to the armoury section of An Garda Síochána, which have been dealt with by An Garda Síochána and the Department of justice. There has been limited media coverage of the falsification of documents submitted by An Garda Síochána to the Department of justice, designed to facilitate the importation of firearms for civilians who are not gardaí. There has also been limited publicity in the media concerning the misuse of protected disclosures made in utmost good faith to the Department of justice concerning matters relating to the Garda armoury.

Deputy Alan Kelly has also raised in Dáil Éireann defective holsters issued to armed members of An Garda Síochána, which appear to have been contributory factors in the death of one garda and the very serious injury caused to another. Very grave issues arise in regard to the procurement process that led to the defective holsters, which have been withdrawn, being manufactured here in Ireland to a grossly substandard level. Other very serious issues have arisen in regard to the procurement of defective ammunition by An Garda Síochána.

Far more serious than any of this has been what appears to be the gross mistreatment of honest gardaí who have been affected by these matters, or who have raised them. There is clear evidence that criminal and disciplinary processes have been launched to conceal major malfeasance in the management of the Garda armoury. A senior Garda officer of the utmost integrity has been sidelined for his part in raising these matters. A junior member of An Garda Síochána, also of the utmost integrity, is currently facing criminal charges on indictment, which appear to be motivated by a desire to conceal abuses in the armoury section.

Senior management in An Garda Síochána is aware of all of these matters. Anyone who thinks that the culture in An Garda Síochána has been transformed by the outcome of the disclosures tribunal concerning Sergeant Maurice McCabe is, I fear, gravely mistaken. I am truly shocked by what I have learned. These matters must be brought into the public domain and an urgent debate is required on them in this House, attended by the Minister for justice, when it resumes in September.