GRA speech 'reprehensible'

SEANAD REPORT:MARC MacSHARRY (FF) said that at a very dangerous time when real leadership was required, he hoped that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice had sent for the Garda Commissioner over the comments by the Garda Representative Association president.

“I think it is absolutely reprehensible what we heard yesterday. It is a disgrace that we have heard these kinds of words.”

There was no question we were in very difficult times in terms of industrial relations and pay, he said. Members of the House had been unjustly treated in terms of the abolition of increments which no other section of the public service had had to endure.

Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) said the statements in question bordered on anarchy. They were absolutely irresponsible and did no favours whatever to the rank and file members of the force, who put their lives on the line daily.

John Hanafin (FF) said the comments amounted to a suggestion to criminal groups that the people who made the laws were corrupt. A very bad hostage had been given to fortune.

Paschal Donohoe (FG) said gardaí were the people charged with implementing the law. They should not under any circumstances step into the law-creating arena. For those lines to be blurred, he thought was a profound mistake. “The rank and file gardaí are the people who will suffer by statements like that. I think a line was crossed yesterday that should not be crossed.”

Calling for a debate on politicisation in the force, Dan Boyle (GP), deputy Seanad leader, said the speech by an outgoing member of the association’s executive was very serious, in the sense that it talked about corruption. “It is serious for how the police themselves are perceived in this country.”

David Norris (Ind) said a high official of the Garda body had attempted, effectively, to impeach a legitimately elected government. It was a highly dangerous thing to use words like sabotage, treason and corruption and to finger a specific political party. “If we want to have effective and decent government, we must draw the line.”