Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman has said he is happy the Garda Commissioner “got a hard time” from the new Policing Authority.

Jim O’Callaghan has said external pressure will be needed to make sure the Gardaí learn the lessons from critical reports.

It follows a hard-hitting statement from the Policing Authority, which has said it is dismayed at how many findings in the O’Higgins report were similar to those from earlier inquiries.

Deputy O’Callaghan says Garda reform won’t happen unless outsiders take a role: “History teaches us that that hasn’t happened over the past 10, 20 years, so the policing authority has a statutory responsibility.

“It’s a new body, I welcome the fact that that they called the commissioner in yesterday, I welcome the fact that they gave her a hard time.

“We need somebody keeping on top of the senior management in An Garda Siochana, to ensure that there is a change in the culture, supervision and management there.”