Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Frank Feighan for facilitating the joint committee in the absence of any member who is a Member of the Seanad. Apologies have been received from Deputy Colm Brophy.

The purpose in this part of the meeting is to engage with Mr. Mark Toland, deputy chief inspector, and Ms Éimear Fisher, acting deputy chief inspector, from the Garda Inspectorate on the priorities for and the challenges that will face the inspectorate in the near future. The committee has identified oversight and the accountability of An Garda Síochána as priority issues in its 2016 work programme. The chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring appeared before the committee last month, while representatives of the Policing Authority were present three weeks ago. The Garda Commissioner, Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan, was before the committee last week. This is the last of the four scheduled engagements in our consideration of these most important matters. Following due consideration of all of the critical points made by each of the delegates in this series of meetings, the committee intends to prepare a report.

On behalf of the committee, I extend a very warm welcome to Mr. Toland and Ms Fisher. The format is that they will be invited to make a brief opening statement which will be followed by a question and answer session. I draw their attention to the fact that witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. If, however, they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members should be aware that, under the salient rulings of the Chair, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Mr. Toland to make his opening statement.