There were 60 complaints of sexual abuse or misconduct against members of An Garda Síochána in the past three years. There are 18 active investigations. We saw what happened with Margaret Loftus. I raised with the Taoiseach the case of a Scott medal being awarded to former detective Noel McMahon, who was named at the Morris tribunal in connection with all sorts of corruption, who assaulted his wife, Sheenagh, with a firearm and who got her children taken from her by lying and using his position. The Taoiseach said that I had a point, that the man in question should not have got the medal and that he would have had issues with it as well. In a letter I have seen since, however, the Garda Commissioner said in reply to Senator Paul Daly that matters such as those to which I refer cannot be taken into account in the award of the medal and nor can general misconduct where a member's courage and heroism are such that they clearly entitle him or her to the award. In other words, it does not matter what bad deeds people do, how much gender violence they commit, they can still get a medal for bravery.

Thank you, Deputy.

Does the Taoiseach think that is acceptable? Will he take it up with the Commissioner-----

Taoiseach is to respond now.

-----and ask for historic cases like Sheenagh O'Doherty's to be investigated.

Taoiseach to respond

I will discuss this with the Minister for justice. If a garda or any other person is guilty of domestic abuse and violence, that takes away from acts of heroism or courage. There is no doubt. I do not know the specific case or the act of bravery that merited the award of the Scott medal, but it must have been a significant act of bravery and perhaps An Garda Síochána took the view articulated by the Commissioner. However, I think there needs to be a broader look at that. If a person engages in domestic violence or sexual abuse , it takes away from courageous acts the same person may have undertaken.