Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to see more comment from the authority on matters that relate to its functions. I have not heard enough in terms of education and training. I understand the authority has an ongoing report. I would like to see the authority being more forthright in the exercise of its independence. I realise and appreciate the authority is at an embryonic stage. The authority representatives want to be careful about what they say and the associated implications, but it has been a slow start in the context of a two-year window. There are serious issues around cost, such as those gone through by Deputy Clare Daly. There are issues around the complaints process as well as education and training. These issues are within the statutory remit of the authority. The public needs to see strong statements from the authority to get progress. I hope we get more commentary from the authority.

What I have learned here during the past two years is that bodies related to the Department of Justice and Equality might have been reluctant initially to comment on particular matters. We started engaging with them and, within two years, because of their frustration and because they found it difficult to exercise their independence, they have become far more forthright in the recent period. The authority should learn from the experience of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, to which Deputy Wallace referred. I recall two years ago everything was fine and there was little criticism from the people there. They said there was proper engagement with the Department of Justice and Equality. It was all politically correct around the engagement of the commission and how it was getting on. Underneath it all, it was very difficult for GSOC. The authority needs to learn from the experience of the commission. I appeal to the authority not to keep referring to the Department and the Minister. The authority will need reform in terms of the legislative basis. There is a great deal of recommending to the Minister and I fear that nothing will change unless the authority exercises its independence, and that is something it can do. I will leave it at that.