Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Many people who have complaints against An Garda Síochána come to Members of the Oireachtas. We are conscious that we only get a partial hearing of the circumstances relating to such complaints. However, many of them say they have been to GSOC, which is where we tell them they should go, but their complaints have not been completed and no conclusion or report has issued. What is the reason for delays in important cases that come before GSOC? Is it a question of resources or a failure of An Garda Síochána to provide information?

GSOC will have received a report from Mr. Justice Frank Clarke in June under section 109 of the Garda Síochána Act in respect of the deaths of Sergeant Michael Galvin and Ms Sheena Stewart. I am not asking the witnesses to get into the substance of it but I will inquire as to whether GSOC has changed its practices as a result of that report. One of the criticisms made by Mr. Justice Clarke was that the decision to designate the fatal injury to Ms Stewart as a criminal investigation was made too quickly.