Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Public Accounts Committee

Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General 2014
Vote 21: Prisons
Vote 24: Department of Justice and Equality
Chapter 9: Development of Prison Accommodation in Dublin

10:00 am

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Deasy raised an issue about Garda inquiries and the need to apply some urgency in that regard. In recent times, when an issue has arisen, for example, in respect of the Health Service Executive, there has been a tendency to refer it to the Garda for inquiry. This happened in respect of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report into matters relating to the HSE and the management of a SIPTU fund. Once that happens, this committee's investigation into the issue in question has to be parked. It is difficult to understand why a matter that is being investigated by this committee and is subsequently referred to the Garda for investigation is not given priority in terms of a decision whether the Garda can conclude such an investigation. Some way must be found to assign priority to matters that are being debated at or investigated by this committee, and the Garda should be encouraged to deal with them in an urgent manner. I say this to be helpful both to the work we do and the work done by the Garda. If there is a way of dealing with these matters more efficiently, that certainly would be helpful to the Oireachtas committees. I raise this point in the context of the points raised by Deputy Deasy. Perhaps Mr. Waters will raise it with the Commissioner in the course of their discussions.

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