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

My next question is for the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, which in fairness has acknowledged the professionalism of the Garda Inspectorate, and the curricula vitae of the three senior personnel in the inspectorate show they obviously are people of the highest calibre. However, the ICCL makes the point that in the forthcoming new dispensation its existence might not be necessary. The Garda Inspectorate, which will give a presentation to the joint committee later this afternoon, has made a submission in which it mentions amending legislation to give it the right to take initiatives itself and not to be obliged to rely on the Minister. The ICCL refers to the inspectorate as being a creature of the Minister, while it appears to desire to be free of that control and to have its own initiative in these matters. What are the ICCL's thoughts in this regard? I hear its points on a Garda professional standards unit and how there will be a new police authority, as well as a Garda ombudsman with newly strengthened powers. Another point made by the Garda Inspectorate, which strikes me as logical and sensible, is that there are crossovers regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, and the Garda Inspectorate. Would it not be better were they to co-operate on such matters and, perhaps on a statutory footing, meet on a regular basis to ascertain how they could deliver their respective responsibilities efficiently? I seek the ICCL's thoughts on this point. In fairness, I am asking questions of the ICCL that are ahead of its ability to have sight of the inspectorate's submission and its presentation to be made later on.