Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and I have another question about GSOC. The Minister has heard Garda representative organisations state that gardaí are afraid to do certain things because they are concerned it will result in a matter coming before GSOC. In the first instance I want to say that I absolutely support GSOC. The level of accountability that it has brought to policing is very important. The credibility it brings to policing is also very important because there is now an independent avenue for people who have a grievance with An Garda Síochána. We know they are right sometimes and it is important that GSOC is there. Notwithstanding this, we do hear of cases that take years sometimes to get through GSOC. During this time the garda who is the subject of a complaint or investigation is unavailable to the police force in most instances. How will we deal with this? Are specific resources being allocated to GSOC to help it to speed up its process so that gardaí can be dealt with and either exonerated or punished as is appropriate?