Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her introduction of the nomination of Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring as chairperson of GSOC. I want to express my thanks to the outgoing GSOC chairperson, Mr. Simon O’Brien. We always read that GSOC is fraught with difficulties. It is an organisation that has a difficult task. In fairness, if there were not working tensions between it and An Garda Síochána, there would be something wrong. If one surveyed police oversight agencies across the world, one would find that GSOC is not too dissimilar to some of its counterparts elsewhere. I suggest that the committee write a note of thanks to Mr. O’Brien.

I support the appointment of Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, who will be a positive addition to GSOC. She has an impressive curriculum vitae, having spent 27 years as a barrister and judge in the Circuit Court, as well as being involved with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the National Crime Prevention Council, the Irish Penal Reform Trust and many other organisations. What was the process used to headhunt Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and what criteria were followed? I do not have a problem with it, but there is the small anomaly that she was a judge of the Circuit Court and was only appointed to the High Court last week. This just about qualifies her for the appointment. Does the process leave itself open to criticism or a challenge because of this? Has she taken any High Court cases over the past week? Does she now formally retire as a judge or does she take leave of absence? She is serving out the remainder of Mr. O’Brien’s term, which is until December 2016. Why does she not get her own term of appointment? What remuneration does she receive? Does she receive remuneration as chairperson of GSOC or does she also receive a High Court judge’s salary?