Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 12 December 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed)

9:00 am

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Anything I say this morning is, of course, subject to the assent of Government, but I agree with the Deputy when he mentions the importance of ensuring that the momentum which has been built following the publication of the recommendations in the report is maintained. I intend to publish an avenue for implementation in the near future and I welcome the Deputy's support in that regard. I intend to bring my proposals to Government very shortly.

The statutory Garda Síochána board will have a significant role to play in ensuring that the organisation is both effectively and efficiently run. The board would be responsible, as other State boards are, in ensuring that the systems and procedures in place to direct and control the organisation are consistent with the statutory responsibilities of the organisation so that the public interest is served. There is also obviously the issue of value for money which has featured at the committee time and again, and risk management must be done in an effective way. In short, the board will hold senior management of An Garda Síochána to account for the performance of their functions. The board will agree the policing strategy and the policing plan and it will have a role to play in the budget being proposed by the Commissioner, subject of course to the approval of the Minister. The board would have a role to play in the nomination of the Commissioner and the deputy commissioner and the matter of appointments to the senior management team.

My overriding view of the board is that it would operate along the lines of how many State boards effectively operate in terms of providing support for the chief executive officer and his or her team.

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