Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is substantial work to be done by the Department. We will ask for a more definitive timeline and also point out the committee's position regarding confidentiality.

No. 1021B from Ms Oonagh McPhillips, Secretary General, Department of Justice, is dated 21 January 2022. It provides information requested by the committee into reports of unofficial strike action by senior officers in An Garda Síochána, and its impact on the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission's, GSOC, investigations. This was raised by members here.

The Secretary General states that while both GSOC and An Garda Síochána are statutorily independent, the Department is engaging with stakeholders with a view to resolving the issue. The Secretary General advises that the Labour Court has held a hearing on the matter and recommended further engagement between the bodies with the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC.

I remind members to bear in mind that this is a live dispute and it is important that we do not prejudice it. It is proposed to note and publish the item. Deputy Carthy had flagged this item.