Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the first issue of the board, I am not really sure if it is the intention of the committee to commit something to writing by way of recommendations to Government. If it is minded to do that, I would be very happy to give full and detailed consideration to such a paper. In the meantime, I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for his commentary. If the committee is not in a position to furnish a paper which might amount to its view or response to the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, I would welcome contact from individual Deputies in whatever form they deem appropriate.

I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for his helpful comments on the matter of the board. It is not envisaged there will be members of the Garda Síochána on the board. It is not part of the plan. The entire board will be selected on an independent basis and will comprise members other than those who are members of An Garda Síochána. It will be made up of people of standing in the community, public affairs and beyond who will bring a measure of independence. I take on board the point raised by Deputy O'Callaghan in that regard.

On the second point on the Policing Authority and the Garda Inspectorate, I also acknowledge they have done good work. The role of the authority in scrutinising policing performance has been very useful. I assure members of the committee - it is a point that was dealt with in some detail by the chair of the commission - that the new body will continue to exercise a very high degree of oversight of policing through public meetings with Garda management, access to a high degree of information through its inspection function, and through a stronger role in research, for example, and the matter of local accountability. The functions of the Policing Authority and the Garda Inspectorate, having regard to their importance, will form the basis of the new legislation for the new body. They are issues we will be charged with responsibility for teasing out in the context of the legislation.