A new Garda Authority is a key proposal in the Labour party's crime package, according to its justice spokesman, Mr Brendan Howlin. He also proposed to establish a Garda Ombudsman. "We will reconnect police and community," he said.
Sharply critical of the Minister for Justice, he said Mr O'Donoghue's only boast could be that he provided 1,300 additional prison places.
"Our imprisonment rate has shot up and so too has the rate of re-offending. Ireland now has one of the highest re-offending rates in Europe."
He rejected allegations that Labour was "soft on crime" and said that was a simplistic "black and white" view.
"We are prepared to show no mercy to those violent criminals who inflict pain, suffering, injury and death on other citizens. But we know that a complex response to crime is now required."
Those who committed violent crimes should be locked up, but a complex system of attachment of earnings or benefits was needed to ensure that people did not go to jail simply because they did not pay a fine.
Resources were needed for the Juvenile Diversion Scheme to break the cycle into more serious crime for young offenders.
The Garda authority bill would set measurable standards for effectiveness, and provide the resources and structures necessary.
Morale in the Garda had been damaged by recent disclosures and allegations. "We will restore public confidence in the Garda, and Garda confidence in themselves."
The party president and outgoing TD, Mr Proinsias De Rossa hit out at the "unholy Trinity" of Charlie McCreevy, Mary Harney and Michael McDowell "who know the price of everything and the value of nothing".
They attached a greater priority to cutting the tax bill of land speculators than in delivering decent school buildings, Mr De Rossa claimed.