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

Yes. I recall that it was a six month period. It is welcome that it at least has been extended, but our recommendation still stands. My questions in that regard are to help the committee in pressing these matters with the Minister, which we hope to do at the end of this series of engagements.

In her opening statement Ms Justice Ring indicated that, contrary to the view gardaí would not turn to a body which dealt with complaints about them, members had gone to GSOC to look for help and support in the making of protected disclosures. She indicated a sense or an awareness of some not presenting because the process might take too long. An examination of the pattern in the conclusion of critical investigations indicates that matters referred to GSOC take a significant amount of time to complete because of the inadequate resourcing for the work that must be undertaken. Has Ms Justice Ring been made aware of cases in which protected disclosures might have been sought to be made that were not referred to GSOC from within An Garda Síochána because GSOC was not geared to take on and conclude necessary investigative work within what would generally be considered to be a reasonable timescale?