Updated 11.13
The Justice Minister is demanding urgent change in the structure and culture of the gardai at all levels. Writing in the Irish Independent, Frances Fitzgerald says a series of systemic failings have generated mistrust in the force.
She said that the public image of the gardai had become tainted by "massive controversy" and public "mistrust".
Minister Fitzgerald says she will bring forward new legislation this week to reform and strengthen the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).
The Minister says while she welcomes changes that have been implemented in recent years, she cannot ignore the fact that the structure and culture of the force has only seen small changes.
Ms Fitzgerald said she was determined to reform the force by giving greater oversight through a new garda authority.
But she has warned that these reforms may not be enough, without a more fundamental change in the attitude and approach of each of the gardai themselves.
She has also conceded that the last attempt to reform the force with legislation in 2005 failed. "Less than 10 years later, a series of systemic failings have caused massive controversy and generated mistrust in our police service" she told the Irish Independent.
She cites areas like the penalty points, crime investigation and whistleblowers as examples of these.
"I cannot be blind to the reality that, in some areas, the structure and culture have changed little".
And she believes that subtle changes are necessary that will affect "all systems and the behaviour of every individual".
The Tánaiste meanwhile is supporting the calls for an overhaul of the force.
Joan Burton says she fully agrees that an overhaul is needed to help ordinary people have confidence in the force.
But speaking at MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal she says the changes being planned by Minister Fitzgerald would not have happened without Labour.
