An Garda Síochána has been one of the defining hallmarks of this State: an unarmed police force characterised by dedicated service to the community; capable of balancing the draconian powers granted to it with a sense of duty and fair play which allows it to enjoy the confidence of the great majority of those it serves.
Some will recall simpler times when the local garda sergeant could sort out errant youngsters with a clip across the ear and when errant gardaí were transferred to far- flung corners of the State. But society has changed. We live in more complex times with greater freedoms requiring, conversely, a stricter adherence to the rule of law and order.
Responding to the disturbing allegations of garda mistreatment of citizens levelled on RTÉ's Prime Time programme this week, the Garda Commissioner has denied that discipline has broken down within the force. And the Garda Representative Association, somewhat predictably, has accused the programme of a lack of balance.
Balance is key to this debate. The vast majority of the 12,000 gardaí provide a committed service. Their role is to deal with elements of an increasingly violent society to whom most of us would prefer to turn a blind eye - until they impact on our lives. And, then, our first port of call for assistance is our local Garda station.
But, as acknowleged by Assistant Commissioner Nacie Rice during the Prime Time programme, the organisation is not perfect. Nor - given its scale - can we expect it to be. In common with any institution, those associated with the Garda run the risk of becoming institutionalised and developing their own rules reflecting a "them" and "us" mentality.
The challenge for Commissioner Conroy is to ensure that all those under his command understand that their primary responsibility is to uphold the rule of law rather than to their colleagues. An Garda Síochána should not be defined by the wrongs perpetrated by a small minority of its members but by the willingness of those in authority to root out malpractice. The reputation of the force remains squarely within the hands of the Commissioner and his senior colleagues.
The Prime Time programme has fuelled, once again, long-standing concern at the reluctance of the Garda to address wrongdoing in their own ranks in a proactive manner. This is compounded by the allegations made to the continuing inquiry into the McBrearty affair in Co Donegal. There is unease also about the circumstances surrounding the shooting of John Carthy in Co Longford.
The Government must seek to allay this concern by clarifying the powers being granted to the new Garda inspectorate/ombudsman and by reassessing if they go far enough to underpin the public confidence which is necessary for effective policing. The only losers in a system of independent inspection will be those gardaí who tarnish the image of dedicated colleagues, some of whom have paid the ultimate price serving this State.