THE Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, was urged by a Minister of State to avoid high society receptions and meet ordinary people. In a strongly worded comment during the crime debate, Mr Gay Mitchell also said the Garda should keep out of politics. "I would say publicly to the new Garda Commissioner that I wish you well. You have a very difficult job, but please keep away from high society receptions", said Mr Mitchell.
We do not want to see you there. I want to see you out meeting the ordinary people in the community." He said if Garda management spent more time meeting the local community and less time at high society functions, they would get some feel on how people on the ground felt.
Politics should be left to the politicians, he said. "Certainly, I think the gardai have to be fully supported, but we are entitled to require from the Garda that they behave in a totally impartial, nonpolitical manner and keep their nose out of politics, whether it is Garda management or Garda trade unions."
Mr Mitchell said mothers were pleading with him not to have their sons sent to Mountjoy because they might emerge taking drugs. "That is the prison system which we administer, which this Government administers. I am part of the problem. Both sides of this House have allowed it to happen."