Mr. Mark Toland:

Similar organisations in the UK provide this facility and are involved in this process. We think we have the skills and expertise to visit Garda stations and look at places where people are detained, and ensure their rights are being communicated appropriately. It would be a multi-agency task. There is a new inspector of prisons who is coming to meet us shortly. We think there is a place for us in the inspections process which is why our independence is so important. We think we have the skills and expertise. We go into custody facilities at the moment. The only thing we do not do is talk to people who are currently detained in Garda stations to ensure they have been dealt with appropriately and that their rights have been properly communicated and adhered to. We already look at lots of aspects of detention and how suspects are dealt with when they are brought into a Garda station. We have a role in that.