Sir, - The notion that any garda should not be answerable to Dail Eireann for his or her actions is one that fills me with horror and disgust. To shroud a unit of the Garda Siochana in a cloak of secrecy is to mock the very purpose of a democratic republic. I quote from the Constitution:
"All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people, whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State and, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy, according to the requirements of the common good."
To those who claim that Dail Eireann does not have the right to question the acts of these gardai, I quote further:
"Each house shall make its own rules and standing orders, with power to attach penalties for their infringement, and shall have power to ensure freedom of debate, to protect its official documents and the private papers of its members, and to protect itself and its members against any person or persons interfering with, molesting or attempting to corrupt its members in the exercise of their duties."
And, from the website of the Garda Siochana: "The general direction, management and control of An Garda Siochana is the responsibility of the Commissioner, who is appointed by the Government. He is responsible to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who in turn is accountable to the Dail (the Irish legislature)."
I take grave exception to the attempt by members of the ERU to avoid the scrutiny of the Oireachtas, and the utter lack of co-operation by the Garda Siochana. I can only hope that my lack of faith in the ability of our nation's leaders to behave in the best interests of democracy is ill-founded, and that the "protectors of the peace" are found to be answerable without exception to the elected representatives of the people.
If those representatives choose to bestow the privilege - not the right - of anonymity, then with that I would concur, despite my desire for all things to be done in the light of day. The brighter the light, dear sir, the less darkness to court our fears. - Yours, etc.,
John M. Cassidy, Addison Road, Fairview, Dublin 3.