Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring:

That is our concern, which is why we have put forward what we feel is a credible case looking for 37 staff, 24 of whom will be on the investigative side of the house. It is because we have seen a build-up of work. Because we have been operating on a part-time basis with regard to the protected disclosures, we are down in terms of personnel because they are working in that area. I am concerned that we cannot meet the demand as it is and any growth in public confidence and turning to us as an organisation to deal with complaints will mean that we are eventually just chasing our tails so we are very concerned that the statutory remit will suffer. I have referred to the programme that has started in conjunction with Pearse Street Garda station. It is a pilot programme. We have already had queries about whether it can be extended. That would take some of the work away from GSOC but also meet the demands of the public so we are looking forward to any of those kind of initiatives in conjunction with An Garda Síochána that can allow for the needs of the public to met but also reduce our workload. That is something we see as the way forward in the absence of funding or statutory change.