I echo the call made by Senator Bacik for a real debate on the report of the Commission of the Future of Policing in Ireland. It is a very thorough and challenging document. It will require very considerable political commitment and the application of resources, not merely financial but also intellectual and emotional, in changing the culture of An Garda Síochána and supporting the process of change.

The report has provided for some oversight of its own implementation by suggesting the process can begin within three months. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan, appeared to say this would be the blueprint for the development of policing in Ireland in the coming years. If it is, we need to see a firm statement of Government commitment as to how the Government will achieve all the various aims in the report.

The policing system has faced many difficulties recently. Morale among members of An Garda Síochána is low. The self-esteem of An Garda Síochána has been dented by recent events. The proposals of Ms O'Toole and her group should be implemented rapidly. Members of An Garda Síochána - men and women - and civilian staff in An Garda Síochána should be given a very clear message that change is on the way and that the Government is 100% committed to this and that it will happen.

Senator Bacik mentioned the referendum result and the fact that the challenge has finally gone through the courts, that the President had finally signed the legislation into law and that the Constitution is now changed. The whole process of referendum petitions should be re-examined. It seems that it is possible for one person, just using ordinary procedures in the courts, to delay every referendum's implementation by about three months.

Children's rights.

That is wrong.

I agree.

Somebody who really has a challenge should have to meet very significant initial thresholds or else the process should stop immediately. The idea that one can consider appealing to the Court of Appeal and then the Supreme Court and then engage the activities of those courts in the process is a real problem. We should speed up the process and make it more certain. This is not the first time it has happened and it will not be the last unless we do something. That is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, whose Department is in charge of referendums and the like.

I went to meet ex-members of the Defence Forces who had a coherent and loud message for the Government that they wanted better conditions. It is something as a member of Government I certainly support. I hope the Government can see a way to working towards getting better conditions for people who have effectively held the line in difficult times and who have represented our country around the world on United Nations duties.

I agree with the future of policing report under the new Commissioner, Mr. Drew Harris. We need to have a debate in this House. If it goes the same way as the Patten commission on policing in Northern Ireland, it would be a huge success. People do not realise that Mr. Chris Patten's grandfather came from Boyle in County Roscommon. We are proud of Chris Patten and how he has handled himself, especially in the Brexit negotiations.

Recently there was a housing protest in the north inner city of Dublin. Commissioner Harris rightly said the form of attire used by gardaí was not correct. Sometimes in this Seanad or even in politics more generally we need to be careful of how we criticise An Garda Síochána. My grandfather was one of the first gardaí. I am proud of the role they have played. They have made mistakes but I am very much behind An Garda Síochána and politicians should be also. The policing report will hopefully draw a line under what at times can be an easy go at members of An Garda Síochána. They do a tough job. I recently saw that a member of An Garda Síochána was attacked by a criminal gang while bringing his child to school. We should be careful about these online threats on social media. I would not like to be a garda and have people taking my photograph, putting it online and knowing where I live. The policing report is worthy and welcome but it is our police force and I am proud of it.