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

I have three questions, the first of which is related to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The Minister is aware that a number of years ago it sought an increase in resources in order that it could have more investigators. Is the 10% increase a recognition that what it sought was legitimate and it has thus been granted?

The second question relates to the equivalence accorded in the Estimates to the judicial appointments commission and the judicial council. As the Minister is probably all too aware, the judicial appointments commission's responsibility will be to recommend to the Government approximately 15 people each year for appointment to the Bench. The function of the judicial council will be to train the 100 judges plus in the country, discipline judges who get into problems or against whom complaints are made and to issue guidelines for judges in dealing with personal injury cases. It will be a much more substantial body of work than that will be required of the judicial appointments commission. Will the Minister explain the equivalence? Does he not recognise that the council will carry out much more detailed and extensive work?

On Forensic Science Ireland, my understanding is the resources are not available to allow small amounts of drugs seized to be tested. In effect, when people have small amounts of drugs seized, there is no prospect of them being prosecuted. Will resources will be allocated to Forensic Science Ireland to enable it to test small amounts of drugs seized?