Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join the Chairman in extending a welcome to the members of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, to our meeting. What we have heard from Commissioners O'Brien, Foley and FitzGerald is disturbing. What has been outlined for us is a culture of frustration, delay and indifference on the part of gardaí towards the commission. That is unsatisfactory.

I will be brief and just put a few questions but I am sure we can come back to the details later. At this juncture, do the members of the commission require more powers and if so, the nature of such powers? Do they require more authority? In respect of the revised protocols mentioned by Commissioner FitzGerald, will he elaborate on the process? In other words, if there is a communication delay, how is the public to know the revised protocols can be carried out within a specific timeframe? What does the commission feel the Minister for Justice and Equality can do to help relieve the sense of dissatisfaction and frustration? What, if anything, can this committee, as one with responsibility for parliamentary oversight, do?

I acknowledge what Commissioner FitzGerald has said about not being in a position to debate or question the detail of the special report. However, is he of the general view that gardaí continue to operate or handle "off the book" informers? Mr Justice Smyth's report is above reproach, but it seems that it is what is not in his report that is the issue. Could the commissioners elaborate on whether they believe gardaí are engaging in this practice currently? If they are, this is a serious departure from the Morris tribunal report and its recommendations and is utterly unacceptable.