Mr. Hugh Hume:

There are a couple of issues there. First, the Deputy is correct regarding prosecutions before a court, but our investigations are not just on the criminal side. We may investigate a garda for a criminal matter and send a file to the DPP, who may decide not to prosecute. We then move into a discipline investigation. Under the current legislation, we have to the process all over again and commence a fresh investigation into the same behaviour. That can delay the investigation for a long period. In effect, we will have done two investigations: first, a criminal investigation and then a discipline one. The new legislation does away with that and allows us to have a single investigative process, which will reduce those timelines to the benefit of the complainant and the garda.