Ms Noirín O'Sullivan:

For reassurance for the committee, it is important to say that last week I met the three GSOC commissioners and they indicated to me that they were happy that things were improving and that they see significant improvements. We agreed to engage constructively to continue that improvement. That is important in terms of managing the relationship and to put that on record.

In regard to the independent policing authority, as I said in my opening address, it is very welcome and I think it will lend itself to independent objective oversight. The composition of the committee is a matter for the Legislature. As the Deputy quite rightly said, we have discussed it as a collective management team because what we are very determined to do is to ensure that our layers of governance and accountability are revised and renewed to provide a level of readiness to service the needs of the new authority. In terms of its make-up, I think it should be as extensive as possible in terms of representation but again, I know that is a matter under determination by this committee and by others, so I would leave that up to the people determining it. However, we will certainly very much welcome it.