Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In its annual report at the end of 2015, GSOC outlined that it had 77 staff. This compares to 105 in 2007. GSOC said that it was going to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of increased resources and staffing levels. Has Ms Justice Ring met the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in recent months and, if so, what was the outcome of those discussions or negotiations?

Section 67(1)(b) of the Act concerns promoting public confidence in the process for resolving complaints. On one hand, we are trying to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the ombudsman and An Garda Síochána in resolving complaints. On the other hand, up to 40% to 50% of allegations are discontinued or withdrawn or gardaí have retired. Many of these people have hit a brick wall and have nowhere to go with their allegations and no conclusion. If we need greater intensification of recruitment, we need to be careful that we do that to ensure we have effective oversight and that we investigate those allegations rather than flipping the majority of them back to An Garda Síochána when many of these people have entered a cul-de-sac and hit a brick wall.

In its annual report, GSOC mentioned that it had given feedback to the Garda around systemic or management issues and complaints.

In many circumstances, the response has simply been an acknowledgement. Alternatively, no complaint whatsoever has been received or it has simply been forwarded to the relevant section or department of An Garda Síochána. Is that good enough? Is that an effective follow-through or system of oversight? Are those concerned simply nodding at what the commission has identified as a systemic issue without giving any real information, response or offer of mutual engagement on the follow-through? When one examines the threads of the 36 complaints, one sees very little by way of a conclusive response from the Garda on the matters of systemic importance raised by the commission.