I agree, but in the short term-----

We are eating into the time of others. I call on Deputy Lahart.

In recent hours, the Garda Commissioner has gone on the record saying that proposed legislation to overhaul oversight of An Garda Síochána would lead to him spending more time reporting to oversight bodies than overseeing policing and leading the service. He said that the policing, security and community safety Bill 2021, as it currently stands, would lead to dysfunctional micromanagement and that the Bill would grant powers to the proposed new Garda ombudsman which would be disproportionate and unconstitutional and which would not withstand an expensive and time-consuming test in the courts. Does the Minister agree that it is an unhealthy sign in our democracy that the Garda Commissioner feels unheard by Government and is compelled to address an Oireachtas committee to this effect? Is the Government listening to the Garda Commissioner's concerns?

The Government has always listened to the Garda Commissioner. My understanding is that the legislation the Deputy is concerned about is at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage. That is probably the best place for all of us to discuss this. Members of the Government parties are on the committee as well as members of the Opposition. Part of the role of the committee's pre-legislative scrutiny is to provide an opportunity to listen to the Garda Commissioner. That is the system working appropriately. I would listen to his words with real care. I would also listen to the questioning of the Government representatives on the committee.