Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Labour Party I welcome the terms of reference of the commission of investigation and also the appointment of Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly. We welcome the fact that the commission will investigate three key areas: the widespread and long-running practice by the Garda Síochána of operating telephone recording systems; the implications of the tapings into the tragic death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996; and the sequence of events leading to the resignation or retirement of the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan.

As Senator Zappone said, the justice committee - of which I too am a member - wrote to the Taoiseach on 3 April. We are delighted to note that the matters we sought to have included in the terms of reference are included in terms (n) and (o) - that is, the progress of the letter dated 10 March 2014 sent by the former Garda Commissioner to the Minister, and the events leading up to the retirement of the former Garda Commissioner. We are glad that both of these have been incorporated, but we also asked that these two matters in particular be front-loaded and dealt with in the early course of the work of the commission of investigation and within eight weeks. The members of the justice committee are disappointed that this requirement was not included in the terms of reference of the commission. We accept that the judge is independent in the conduct of the inquiry and that he will, of course, make a decision as to whether it be held in private or public, but it is our view, at least in respect of those two matters, that the hearings should be held in public. The committee will be expressing that view to the Taoiseach and to Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly.

As other speakers have said, it is vital that we seek to restore faith and trust among the public in the Garda Síochána. The events which led to the establishment of the commission of investigation will lead to a great improvement in governance systems in the Garda Síochána. I particularly welcome the Government's commitment to establishing an independent policing authority, which has been a long-standing Labour Party policy. Deputies Anne Ferris and Seán Kenny and myself, as the Labour Party members of the justice committee, last week published a framework document for the shape of such a Garda authority, which would at last provide a buffer between the Minister and the Garda Síochána. In our view this will greatly improve the governance of An Garda Síochána.