Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That came across in the opening statement and, as Chairman of the committee, I support what was said. Ms Justice Ring has made it very clear that one of GSOC's real concerns is matching a new remit with resources. In 2018, in excess of 500 cases went back to the Garda for investigation. If they are to come under GSOC's direct attention once again, there will have to be a significant increase in resources to cope. This is very clear and I am of the view that GSOC would have the support of the committee in its entirety in that regard. It is something we will most definitely do.

In the context of some of our recent reports on community policing and rural crime, Ms Justice Ring highlighted the fact that gardaí are being diverted from their usual policing duties in order to address a plethora of these GSOC investigations. I use that language quite pointedly.

We are losing them and their expertise from the front-line duties that they should be performing.

It has been 15 months since representatives from GSOC were last with us. I am still the Chair and, along with the clerk, I deal with all of the correspondence on a week-by-week basis. I will share with our guests, in an honest and frank way, what I have noted with some disappointment during that period. All that they have shared with us underscores or explains some of this. There has been an increased frequency in expressions of a loss of confidence. We receive a great deal of correspondence relating to matters that do not come within our remit, but people write to us in any event. This is the justice committee, so they tend to vent and share their experiences with us. I am sharing with our guests the fact that there is a lack-of-confidence factor, which is not what we or they want to see. Everyone in political life has a responsibility to help to ensure that this does not become rooted in any way.

Ms Justice Ring referenced the emergence of a proposal to establish an independent office of the police ombudsman. Am I describing that clearly enough?