Opportunity must not be squandered - Policing Authority

LIKE nearly every institution in the State, An Garda Síochána has been the subject of ongoing criticism in recent years and, like nearly every other national institution, the force has had to accept that some of that criticism was justified.

That essential questioning culminated in the resignation, if that is an accurate description, of former commissioner Martin Callinan and his political master, former justice minister Alan Shatter a little over a year ago.

That criticism must have been disheartening for the great majority of gardaí who wish for no more than the chance to do their job properly and serve this society. The criticism did have a positive impact, though — it set in train long overdue and important reforms if the force’s credibility and moral authority were to be preserved. The move-along-nothing-to-see-here defence finally, and thankfully, ran out of road.

That reform process reached a significant milestone yesterday when details of the the new policing authority’s powers and obligations were announced when the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015 was published.

Speaking at the publication, the independent body’s chairwoman, Josephine Feehily, promised to be a “critical friend of the Garda Síochána, and so you’re critical in terms of their performance, you’re challenging, but you’re also a friend in pointing out where they need support”.

That one half-sentence represents almost a revolutionary sea change as, previously, garda officers were criticised for not having the confidence to challenge their political masters over, say, resources, because they were the very people who would make defining decisions on their careers. This provision should remove that double-edged sword from the conversation and lead to a realistic appraisal of what is and what is not possible with the resources assigned to the gardaí. It will introduce a degree of realism to the conversation that may not always have been pressed home.

Critically, the authority will, within a year, prepare a code of ethics, and encourage and facilitate the reporting of wrongdoing within the force. These seem benchmark ideals and it must be hoped that they are embraced enthusiastically by all of the associations representing members of the force. None of us, least of all the gardaí, can afford prevarication on this change in culture and expectation.

It is also a profound break with the practice that has not always served us well that members of the Oireachtas and local authorities are precluded from serving on the policing authority which will be finalised in the coming months.

Yesterday’s announcements do, though, bring one question into a sharper focus: What is the role of the Garda Ombudsman Commission? Would it be better if the two organisations werre merged?

Yesterday’s publication is a welcome strengthening of the ideas of transparency and accountability in our public life and feeds into what seems to be an accelerating sense of renewal and possibility all across society. Let us hope the opportunity is not squandered and that optimism is justified.

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