Commentary on the Guerin report has rightly focused on the failings of the Garda Síochána on specific issues and in specific cases. What has gone mostly unremarked upon is the Mr. Guerin's criticism of how a lack of resources has contributed to the problems we are dealing with today. Chapter 2 of the report highlights that no inspector was allocated to Bailieborough Garda station during the relevant times. That chapter also describes the station building in Bailieborough as a relic of policing of a different age. The report also highlights the problems of inadequate Garda resources in neighbouring localities, increasing the pressure on already stretched Garda resources in Bailieborough.

The same situation exists in several Garda divisions. Resources are stretched to their maximum and some areas are significantly more disadvantaged than others. These include areas that have had a consistent population growth over the past decade or two, such as Meath, Wexford, Laois, Offaly and Kildare, which is the worst in terms of the ratio of gardaí to population and is significantly below the national average.

This is supposed to be dealt with in the policing plan each year. If one measures the demographic changes and the CSO crime rates, as I have done, the only conclusion one can draw is that the policing plans are a work of fiction.

I sought a meeting with the former Minister for Justice and Equality to talk to him about this but he told me it was the exclusive responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. I then sought a meeting with the Garda Commissioner who told me he would not meet me but he put me on to the Assistant Commissioner who I had met previously. He had told me that the strategy in regard to resources was that in each division one holds what one has, so there would be no movement. That is a particular difficulty at a time of embargo.

What function will the new independent Garda authority, which is due to be up and running later this year, have in regard to the deployment of Garda personnel? Will it deliver a police service which will be able to meet and respond to be the changing needs or will we see the same situation apply but under a different Garda Commissioner?

I thank the Deputy. Her question and comment at the beginning related to the situation that has applied from the foundation of the State up to the present time where the Commissioner of the day was always responsible for the day-to-day running of the Garda force and the Minister for justice of the day, with few exceptions in the past, did not interfere with that. Obviously, there would be meetings between the Garda Commissioner and the Minister of the day in respect of the requirements of the Commissioner to run the Garda force in terms of facilities, vehicles and aids and appliances for gardaí to do their job. That was an issue raised consistently by Minister after Minister.

The decision of the Government to move to an independent statutory authority to deal with the Garda will remove politics from the running of the Garda in the sense that the Commissioner who makes recommendations to Government, and who has always done so, in respect of Garda divisions, the running of and the senior personnel in the Garda will become part of the requirement of and the responsibility of the independent statutory authority.

I do not want to attempt to spell out the way this will work in its finality because I would like to hear the views of Members when we discuss this. As I said the day before yesterday, the committee I chair, which is a new Cabinet committee dealing with the requirement to bring forward the model and structures for the independent statutory authority will have its second meeting on Tuesday of next week. I hope to come back to the House with recommendations or a structure it can debate in July.

I listened to different speakers say it is very important to get this right. It is critical the people have faith, belief and credibility in the integrity of the force but also that those who work in it have pride in what they do.

I am hearing comments from different parts of the country about what should or might be done. All I want to say is that all of these comments and observations will be taken into account, as will the views of the Members. The decision is to move to an independent statutory authority away from the current situation where the Commissioner of the day makes all of the recommendations, including the recommendations for approval by Government of promotions and so on. What one has to see is that it is independent, properly representative and that it has functions. The Minister for Justice and Equality will come back to Government in due course with her memorandum on that, the Government will make its observations and the House will have its opportunity to do the same.

The rebuilding of morale cannot be postponed. A myriad of reports and expert inquiries have to be concluded but the morale issue is important because we do not want to be back here talking about the Guerin report in the same way we talk about the Morris report.

Chapter 20 of the Guerin report states: "But discipline is not merely the absence of insubordination. Discipline is application to the task at hand". The task at hand and how one carries out that task is very much dependent on the resources available to one at any given time. If a district finds itself lacking in Garda personnel, Garda accommodation, Garda cars and all the associated services, then one can bet one's bottom dollar that it will find itself lacking in the discipline to which the Guerin report refers in chapter 20. It is incredibly important this issue is dealt with and that the force, or elements of it, can be moved according to the needs and to the crime statistics. This situation of "one holds what one has" is not acceptable because some parts of the country will do very poorly out of it if that continues.

I think the Taoiseach accepts that poor management and distribution of personnel and resources have a significant impact on crime detection and morale across the force. If the expert review identifies resource needs will the Government meet those needs, because there certainly are gaps? If they cannot be filled by moving people around the country, it will have to be filled in another way. It seems clear that may well be something which is thrown up by some of the inquiries.

I thank Deputy Murphy. Her points are valid in respect of morale being a requirement, that people have pride in the job they do and that they Garda force, as a unit, has high morale. There are a number of things on which the Minister will be able to work to improve that in the shorter term. Clearly, in terms of the force itself as a professional competent force, issues have been identified by the Guerin report which the Government will address, with the Minister's propositions to come back after the decisions made yesterday are implemented.

On the question of resources being available, one does not need an expert group to recognise there is always a need for extra resources. The former Minister, Deputy Shatter, fought very hard for extra finances for vehicles and facilities for the gardaí in order for them to do their job. We do not need an expert group to tell us that. Resources for any Department are contingent on the overall position of the economy and how the Government structures its budget. Of course, it is impossible to do a job competently as a professional force if facilities are not made available and, if they are not available to the level one would expect, morale always suffers but it is not always the issue.

I take the Deputy's point about resources being static in each of the districts. The districts themselves have changed but I agree it is a case of "if needs be" where provision has to be made to service the community and citizens and to provide the facilities for the force to do its job as one would expect. These points are valid. As the decisions of the Government are being implemented and as we move towards the statutory authority and its responsibility, the Deputy will have the opportunity to contribute and to make these points to see where they might be practical and, where acceptable, to be implemented.