Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has clarified the board will not include any members of An Garda Síochána. That is different from how semi-State bodies or corporate boards operate. There are non-executive members from outside who bring independence and external knowledge but there are also internal people. There are executives on the board who are directly involved in the management of the entity. It is different. The board is within An Garda Síochána and the proposal is to transfer some of the important functions, which are at present practised by the Policing Authority, back into the Garda. For instance, senior appointments are at present dealt with and recommended by the Policing Authority. That function will be going back within An Garda Síochána. I note the point the Minister made about how PCSOC will continue the functions carried out by the Policing Authority and the Garda Inspectorate, but what is the benefit of it? I am not holding the Minister to his answer because he has to formulate proposals for Government. What is the benefit of getting rid of the Policing Authority other than merging the Garda Inspectorate with it and replacing it with PCSOC? Is there any benefit other than being able to say we implemented the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland?