Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Given the importance of this, I have been very careful not to deviate from the fundamental issues, namely, to restore integrity and credibility in An Garda Síochána in its competence, professionalism and in how it interacts with the people, and the independence and oversight responsibilities of GSOC. However, it is a new way of dealing with an old structure.

There have been four Ministers for Justice and Equality since 2007: Mr. McDowell, the late Mr. Lenihan, Mr. Ahern and now the Minister, Deputy Shatter. This covers that span. Through the investigation by the Garda Commissioner and through the investigation by the Director of Public Prosecutions, 11 of the 12 allegations were found to be groundless. I have a different version here from Sergeant McCabe. We are being asked to ascertain the truth of the matter.

The DPP and GSOC are independent entities with which the Minister, Deputy Shatter, is not satisfied and has not been satisfied for a couple of years because his view was that we should not have a confidential recipient process because it has not worked effectively. That is why today the Government approved an amendment to the Protected Disclosures Bill to provide for gardaí to go to GSOC directly and not have an office of confidential recipient, although under the legislation we have to appoint an interim confidential recipient in the meantime.

We need to take all the paperwork and put some coherence on it because we could all be talking and arguing for the next two years without having a focus on many of the allegations that may arise. It is prudent and a good proposition to appoint someone with experience in criminal law to take all this paperwork, put it into a coherent fashion and make recommendations on the assessment of the investigative methods that were followed. If that means having a commission of investigation, that is what will happen. When this comes back to me in my position as Taoiseach, I will lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas and we will have a public debate on that.

The issue of protection is clearly an issue. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality is looking at the effectiveness and standards that apply in the 2005 Garda Síochána Act and Mr. Justice Cooke may make some recommendations in that regard also. I have listened to people of stature, some of whom have served on GSOC, making points about its inadequacies. They will have the opportunity to make their contributions in public session before the Oireachtas committee. I believe that is a good engagement with civic society in the interest of having that integrity of our police force and the independent oversight body put in place.

See this speech in context