I want to raise with the Taoiseach the position of Garda Commissioner, Nóirín O’Sullivan, and the virtual conveyor belt of crises that continue to engulf An Garda Síochána.

It is no secret that public confidence in the Commissioner is in tatters. It is certainly not difficult to see why. The Commissioner has failed to tackle persistent malpractice and a blatant lack of accountability in the upper echelons of Garda management.

Yesterday, the scandal surrounding serious financial irregularities at Templemore and the Commissioner's handling of the affair took yet another turn. At the Committee of Public Accounts it has emerged that the Comptroller and Auditor General was misled by the serving Garda Commissioner. The Commissioner wrote to the Comptroller and Auditor General on 31 July 2015 telling him or reassuring him that all was well regarding the integrity of Garda finances. However, the Commissioner knew that this was not true. She had known that, she says, since 27 July 2015.

The Committee of Public Accounts has heard evidence of attempts to contain, if not cover up, financial irregularities at the Garda training college. As part of that process, senior management sought to muddy the waters in communications with the Department of Justice and Equality.

As the Taoiseach knows, there were in excess of 50 bank accounts being operated at Templemore and it has now emerged that GSOC is conducting a serious fraud investigation into what has become known as the Cabra account. The Taoiseach is aware of all of these scandals. He should make no mistake that any refusal to act by his Government makes this a crisis not only in policing but also in the leadership of the State. If, like his predecessor, Deputy Enda Kenny, he chooses to turn a blind eye to the seriousness of the situation, the credibility of his Administration will be broken. He has an opportunity to avoid that and do the right thing. He can bring to an end the evasion and political gymnastics that so dominated the previous Taoiseach's handling of these scandals and turn instead to an approach that would really change the administration of policing for the better.

Yesterday, during the proceedings of the Committee of Public Accounts, the Commissioner could or would not express confidence in her senior management team. How can anyone have confidence in the head of police if she cannot express confidence in her own team? It is incredible that anybody, not least the head of Government, could seriously argue that the Garda Commissioner is the right person to rebuild public confidence in policing. While the political establishment in the State stretches the bounds of credibility every day, even in Ireland credibility does not stretch that far. The Taoiseach has to face up to reality. The Commissioner has to go. Her position is absolutely untenable. Does the Taoiseach have confidence in Nóirín O'Sullivan?

Yes, I do have confidence in the Garda Commissioner, as does the Government. The problems besetting the Garda are long-standing. Most, if not all, predate her becoming Garda Commissioner.

That is simply not true.

I believe she is somebody who is fighting many battles on many fronts in an effort to put things right.

That is true.

More importantly, I want the public to have confidence in the Garda. That is crucial in my approach to the matter. It is unfortunately true that trust and confidence have been strained because of the revelations that have beset the Garda in recent months and years. The Government has a duty to restore that confidence and trust. We have a policing model in Ireland that is based on confidence and trust. We do not have an armed police force such as in other countries which base their authority on arms rather than the relationship with the community.

Like in France or Canada.

The best way to restore trust and confidence in the Garda is, first, to ensure there is a thorough investigation of all of the allegations made. That is under way. The Committee of Public Accounts is carrying out hearings and sat for the entire day yesterday in order that the hearings could proceed. I also understand the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has begun a fraud investigation into accounts in Templemore. It is important that these investigations proceed and quickly. It is also important that they be allowed to run their course. We should not come to conclusions on their outcome until the people actually carrying them out have come to a conclusion having listened to all of the evidence.

We also need to accelerate the pace of reform in the Garda. I am not happy with the pace at which it is occurring. It is very important in the coming months and years that we build on the reforms that have taken place and also accelerate things in order that we can do what is most important, namely, restore the confidence and trust of the people in the Garda.

That is most uninspiring. The Taoiseach is treading the well worn path of Deputy Enda Kenny, a master of evasion who brought not taking decisions on Garda reform to the level of a higher art. Two things have been established and they are not in dispute. The first fact accepted by everyone, including the Garda Commissioner, is that she failed to comply with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 in failing to inform the then Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, of the serious allegations made at Templemore. That is not a matter of dispute. The second established fact is that the current serving Commissioner wrote to the Comptroller and Auditor General and misled him and his office.

There is no contention, debate or dispute about those two facts.

Leaving everything else aside, on the basis of those two established facts, the Commissioner has to go. If the talk of reform is more than rhetoric and if the Taoiseach is serious about a new era in policing, then accountability has to start at the very top and that means the Taoiseach, as head of Government, has to come off the fence, call things for what they are and ensure that the Commissioner goes in the interests of An Garda Síochána and public confidence. Anything short of that demonstrates for one and all that he is simply talking down the clock and talking the language of reform but not with any real seriousness.

Thank you, Deputy.

I have given the Taoiseach two established facts of failure in respect of Templemore that revolve directly around the serving Commissioner under her watch. What is he going to do about that?

First, I am not on the fence; I have been very clear and straight with the Deputy. I have confidence in the Garda Commissioner, as does the Government. I do not think that is being on the fence. That is being as straight as I possibly can on this issue.

In regard to the Act to which the Deputy referred, it requires a Commissioner to inform the Minister for Justice of certain things but it is in the judgment of the Commissioner as to whether the threshold is reached and it is something that needs to be referred to the Minister for Justice.

That is pathetic.

That is the case.

Does the Taoiseach believe the threshold was reached?

Deputy McDonald may not like that being the case but that happens to be the case and that is a judgment call.

In terms of the other facts she gave me, I can give her some facts too. The Committee of Public Accounts is currently carrying out an investigation.

I am on the Committee of Public Accounts.

It had hearings that went on for hours yesterday at which the Deputy was present. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, has launched an investigation looking in particular into alleged fraud when it comes to accounts in Templemore and a tribunal, the Charleton tribunal, is under way.

And the Commissioner remains in place. That is astonishing.

Yes, but it is the Deputy's contention that we should bypass all those investigations-----

No.

-----a tribunal-----

Due process.

-----GSOC and the Committee of Public Accounts and rush a judgment. I do not believe in summary justice or kangaroo courts.

Kangaroo courts-----

When the Deputy was on the backbenches he was fairly well able to delivery summary justice.

I appreciate that Deputy McDonald comes from a political tradition that is okay about that but mine is not.