The Policing and Community Safety Authority is deeply concerned by the contents of the Crowe Report, which were discussed with the Commissioner in public on 31 July and in private on 26 June.

While the report has a focus on Roads Policing, the Authority’s wider concern relates to the absence of any effective performance management within An Garda Síochána. For an organisation of approximately 18,000 to have no means of effectively managing poor performance is shocking and needs immediate action.

Chairperson Elaine Byrne said: “The vast majority of Gardaí perform their duties to a very high standard and do their utmost to offer a first-class, modern policing service to the people of Ireland.

“However, as this report shows, some have a blatant disregard for the job and its functions. They knew that they were being reviewed as part of this report on Roads Policing and yet they were openly hostile to doing their job.

“We are seriously concerned that there seemed to be a fear from some managers of managing performance.

“We welcome the fact that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and his senior colleagues acted on the concerns expressed to him by a Garda member. This reflects a cultural change within the organisation, where uncomfortable truths are ones they have sought to confront rather than sweep under the carpet.

“We look forward to a continuation of this approach under the new Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly. The Authority will be meeting him to discuss these issues and other policing matters at our next meeting in public on 25 September.”