Ms Josephine Feehily:

I probably spoke a bit glibly. The peculiar structure of the Act as a whole means the decision-making authority, in this case the Government, is the only body with full remit with regard to the Garda Síochána, as we have only partial remit. We also have the specific provision of the Commissioner's personal accountability, which is not to the authority. The idea of the authority taking a view, when the decision-making body has full line of sight on much broader information than the authority has, to me, it does not seem we would exercise that power in these circumstances because of the limits of our responsibility and the limits of the Commissioner's accountability to us.