Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for being here today. It is great that we are discussing this subject again but I get a sense of déjà vu. These issues have been talked about more since the commission last appeared before the committee but in terms of structural changes, particularly legislatively, we are no further along the road. That is my view.

My first batch of questions relate to the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and the work of GSOC. The press statement issued by GSOC on publication of that report correctly, as far as I am concerned, pinpointed that a lot of what is said therein echoed what had been already said by GSOC. In other words, there is nothing new in it. This could have been legislatively provided for before now. I am incredibly frustrated about that. Does GSOC expect to get a statutory right to information, in particular? As highlighted, this is an area that has been long lobbied for, including in the 2016 report of this committee. Is GSOC any closer to getting that statutory right to information?

I was concerned to hear in the opening statement that GSOC found out about the implementation group and that the Garda Inspectorate and the Policing Authority have also been excluded from the implementation group around the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. That is news to me, which I do not welcome. I note that when GSOC raised the matter with the Department, the response was that it will consult with GSOC. I do not think that is adequate. Do the witnesses still believe that GSOC should have a seat at the table? I believe it should, and that this committee should do all it can to assist in that regard.

It was also mentioned that the GSOC business plan should be available by the middle of this year. Perhaps the witnesses would elaborate on what that means and on the point regarding what additional resources are required. It is a bit unfair to ask the witnesses to comment on the overlap with the Commission on the Future of Policing but an interpretation of it could be that we could have a lot of what is proposed in place and been well down the road already if we had not had the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. There is no reason much of what is proposed is being delayed. I would welcome the witnesses' responses to those questions before I move to my next batch.