Paul Murphy demands independent probe after minister's claims

Do you agree that it is completely inappropriate for the Minister for Justice to act separate from an independent process and make a finding about a complaint by members of the public about how they were treated by the Gardaí at the Mothers Against Gemocide protest? Quite incredible. The Minister coming out and saying that the footage shows that all allegations about strip searching of protesters were false. The Minister did not even claim to have seen this footage, he is basing it on reports of the Garda Commissioner and then as Deputy Coppinger has pointed out the Garda Commissioner has not seen it, in fact there is no such footage. It is simply a question of the Minister for Justice hearing from the Garda Commissioner that the Gardaí we have investigated ourselves and don't worry we did not do anything wrong. Absolutely incredible. Do you not agree that there needs to be an independent process, we repeated by the way the stories that the women told us and we believe the Mothers Against Genocide, we repeated them not just inside the Dáil because there is a question of abuse of Dáil privilege but also outside the Dáil, we are fully free and able and willing to continue to do that. But do you agree there needs to be an independent process that the Minister should withdraw this incredible attempt to describe these mothers as liars and allow them to proceed with their complaint to Fisru before passing any judgment? Thank you Deputy. Deputy Corey? Generally on the operational issues those are matters for the Garda Commission. I am not in a position to intervene in terms of the operational organisation of Angarda Shekhana. The issues have been there for quite some time. The Minister is in a very difficult position if the Garda Commission has not been invited to the conference as well. And that his predecessor took the same position. And I accept that position by the way. I think the Garda Commission should be invited to the conference. That is my view. I think boycotting the Commissioners and not inviting them is a mistake. There should always be engagement and there should always be, and I think in that sort of circumstances I think the Minister would have no difficulty. That is my understanding. I haven't spoken to the Minister in relation to this. But there is an issue there. Let's not pretend it is all, there is no one boycotting. Opposition deputies have asserted a boycott. It is not that. And I think people know what is happening here. There is a better way of doing things, I would respectfully suggest. And also in respect of the commentary of Deputy Brabazon, I would agree 100% that we need to reduce paperwork, we need to create greater flexibility. We are endeavouring to do that with the rollout of technology and facial recognition and so on. I think that is very important. And also in terms of greater facilities and resources. In terms of Deputy Amorto Koo, again you referenced the division structure, it is an operational decision by the Commissioner. I hear your views in respect of that. And in terms of the community safety partnerships and the need for those to be rolled out. Deputy Coppinger, Deputy Murphy again used the phrase liars, and the Minister never used that phrase about anybody. I think it is wrong to suggest that the Minister called people a liar, he did not. I would argue that the Gardaí have strenuously denied the allegations that were asserted in this House, strenuously denied it, and issued statements to that effect. And the Minister took the allegations very seriously. Of course, it is open for complaints to be made to Fisro, which is an independent body, which can hear any allegations in respect of the members of the government. There are women in the government too, Deputy Coppinger. And it is not, so women in Angorda Chikona have every right to be believed as well. If, and I am not making any comment on individuals here, but I just would make that point. And there was a strong refutation of the allegations that were made in this House, in respect of members of Angorda Chikona who had no right to defend themselves in this House, who do not have that right, and who do not have that obligation. They do not have that facility. You did assert that they committed and made offences that they would strenuously deny, and the context would be strenuously denied. I have to say that. Thank you, Taoiseach. Yes, Fisro was there then to follow that. We have to move on because we are out of time on Taoiseach's questions, so I am asking to conclude on this. Thank you.