Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Before I call Deputy Daly, I wish to take the opportunity to ask a few questions because Senator Ó Clochartaigh and I have to attend another engagement at 5.40 p.m.

The background to the formation of GSOC was the Morris tribunal which caused huge concern throughout the State and cost it dear financially and in terms of public confidence in the workings of the Garda Síochána. Following that, the Garda Síochána Act was passed and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established. All sorts of changes have taken place which have been very welcome.

The most worrying aspect of the report, which was published almost two months ago, was the comment made that the lessons of the Morris tribunal had not been learned in regard to the retention of contemporaneous notes and the informant handling process. That was the core of the Morris tribunal's concerns. The report referred to grave concern about that. A number of events took place in the following weeks, such as the penalty points issue and the issues which arose between the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, and Deputy Wallace, who is present. Those issues dominated the media and possibly overtook the publication of the report. I am pleased we are discussing the report today because we want to be constructive and probe the issues involved. The delegation has put recommendations on the table.

Some two months have passed. The Opposition has raised the issue with the Minister, Deputy Shatter. He said he is awaiting the response of the Garda Commissioner and when he has had a chance to go through it, he will pull both sides together. I want to establish when that will happen. Is the delegation satisfied it will happen soon? I am not. It has taken two months which is far too long for something as serious as the issues raised by the report.

The delegation confirmed its concerns in regard to people being handled off the books are historic and current. We need to be very clear because CHIS is in place, as is accountability to a High Court judge. The issue is people being handled off the books, engaging in criminality and being given a cover to do so while co-operating with the Garda. These are matters of serious concern. The delegation cannot be specific, but I would like it to address the general concerns around that.

Immediately after the delegation published its report, unfortunately, a number of journalists ran stories quoting Garda sources. There were attempts to discredit its work. That is why I feel quite annoyed about the fact that two months later, there has been no definitive response from the Minister. When the committee has completed its deliberations on this matter, we will make recommendations to the Minister on what needs to be learned. I apologise for being long-winded.