Justice Minister: 'flawed Garda culture' criticism untrue

The Justice Minister says criticism of a 'flawed Garda culture' is an untrue, 'shapeless' and 'disempowering' criticism.

Frances Fitzgerald says she has not found the force 'demonstrating a corner cutting culture' - in spite of the assumptions in the public arena.

She says that she accepts that arrogance can happen - but says that elevating it into a 'culture' is disempowering.

Minister Fitzgerald says if the Garda force is to be reformed and brought forward - changes must be recognised: "Where change is happening, let us recognise it, rather than repeating old mantras.

"Because I believe if we continually repeat the old mantras without looking at pacific issues and identifying where change is taking place, we will not move forward."