Dr. Des Hogan:

To go back to the previous question on neglect and how that fits into service delivery, we raised in our submission the fact that the State has an obligation to engage in proper planning and oversight of police investigations. If something goes wrong, a person is shot unlawfully or ill treated and there is an absence of proper command and control, the State is responsible. In those circumstances, Ireland will be found to be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. There needs to be a link when we define service to include middle management staff and to ensure that their service is also to the people who report to them. When they are setting up the proper policing activity and responding to what might be a request from the public, that should be seen as part of their brief as well. They are not just providing a service outward, they are also providing a service inward. Lower level gardaí should be able to expect that from middle and senior management. It would reinforce the culture of respect for service and the question of service. If we can get a definition for that when reviewing the Act, it would be useful.