Remember, Mr Flanagan was part of Enda Kenny’s inner circle that, before the 2011 election, promised to make a culture of transparency central to public life.

A regressive measure like this would fly in the face of that imperative, one that strengthens every democracy that makes it a proactive, unquestioned reality.

Remember too that the issue is in play because gardaí were involved in a court-sanctioned operation last week where some officers were masked and, more importantly, did not wear identity numbers. This flies in the face of accepted norms in civilised society.

Gardaí must be allowed to protect themselves from social media campaigns directed against them or — worse — their families by wearing masks but that does not mean they can remain anonymous, especially if confrontation is a possibility.

If a garda is to wear a mask on duty then that officer must wear a number that might mean nothing to the public but can be easily identified by authorities, Garda or otherwise. The reality is that anonymity discourages accountability. This is not acceptable in an area as important and sensitive as policing.

This is especially important as in an increasingly unequal world — re-read your portfolio title minister — where confrontations like last week may become regular.

Police forces all around the world now use body cameras to record interactions with the public. In most jurisdictions, this has cut complaints of police misbehaviour thereby protecting both the police and the public. That innovation, if gardaí are to wear masks, seems a reasonable first step.

Yesterday the AGSI condemned threats against gardaí on social media.

It is easy, indeed it is essential, to support the ASGI position on this, as a picture of a garda involved in last week’s events, and details of his daily movements were shared more than 1,300 times online.

This is a consequence of inappropriate garda behaviour but, on a wider plain, it is a symptom of a far greater threat — the free hand extended to social media giants that seem more or less unaccountable.

Mr Flanagan should concentrate his efforts to better control those who publish these images rather than those who take them. After all, the images are impotent until published.

In a functioning democracy, support for the police should be unquestioned but our force has, in too many instances been its own worst enemy.

Fantasy drink driving figures, the treatment of whistleblowers and the threat of an illegal strike over pay are just a few of the issues that speak to a toxic culture which the new commissioner Drew Harris has promised to change.

To succeed, Mr Harris will need support, especially public support. Should Mr Flanagan’s Orwellian picture veto be made law. Winning that support will be even more difficult than it already is.