Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring:

In so far as we carry out investigations, we have certainly had differing levels of co-operation over the years from the Garda. Where we send work to the Garda, it must be carried out and it is carried out. That is not the issue, but we have found, for instance, getting information has not always been easy. We have explained the process we have set up to allow for information and documents to be provided to us. In the main we get our information within a 30-day period, but where it is outside of the 30-day period, it is problematic and we have often said, including to this committee, that it should be clear to the Garda that if we ask for matters to be provided it is not a question of it being provided when they are ready but rather that they provide it.

In the North I have heard the Chief Constable state that if the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland makes a demand, the PSNI does not ask why but provides what is demanded because it is of the view that if the police ombudsman wants something, it must be relevant. Here, it is more fluid and we often have to explain in detail and a number of times why we want something before we get it. In fairness, the system in place has proved to be much more effective than it was at the beginning. However, we are often still left to make repeated requests for documents or information that should be provided as of right.