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

At last week's committee hearings, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Amnesty International, Transparency International Ireland and other contributors raised the issue of security oversight. Unlike in the North of Ireland, An Garda Síochána has responsibility for intelligence, security and policing all under the one roof. The contributors last week made the suggestion that we need more scrutiny similar to international practice. What are the acting Garda Commissioner's thoughts on the suggestion of this committee having a role in scrutinising the crime and security branch of An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces G2, subject to certain restrictions which apply, for example, in Britain or the United States? There was a consensus that we need to see improved oversight of that area while not interfering in the important work of the Garda Síochána.