Sir, – What possessed the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) to issue its statement regretting the resignation of Alan Shatter (Home News, May 8th)?
It seems to me that the ICCL has lost the run of itself in effectively siding with the minister who refused to acknowledge the shabby treatment of Garda whistleblowers, was reluctant to tackle Garda malpractice, and who breached data-protection regulations. If the ICCL thinks none of this is reason enough for Mr Shatter’s resignation, I think we’re all in trouble. – Yours, etc,
DOMINIC CARROLL,
Ardfield, Co Cork.
Sir, – It is hard to believe that less than 10 years after the statutory and administrative reforms introduced in response to the Garda corruption exposed by the Morris Tribunal that we are still being confronted with a seemingly endless succession of scandals concerning the Garda. There is no reason to believe that the recent and prospective inquiries will be any more effective in delivering lasting reform.
There is a systemic malaise in the Garda organisation that can only be tackled by the establishment of a Patten-style commission with the remit and resources to conduct a thorough root-and-branch review of what we want from policing and how we should deliver policing in this country. This must include basic issues such as recruitment, training, pay and conditions, deployment, management, powers, functions, policies and mission, as well as the fundamentals of governance, accountability and transparency.
The object must be the establishment of a professional, efficient, accountable and transparent civil police organisation that reflects best international standards appropriate to a European democracy in the 21st century.
It will take a brave and visionary Minister for Justice to pursue that project and to see it through to a successful conclusion. The future of the Garda and the quality of policing, democracy and the rule of law in this country are heavily dependant on it. – Yours, etc,
Prof DERMOT
WALSH, MRIA
Old Dover Road,
Canterbury,
Kent, England.