Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Select Committee on Justice and Equality
Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
9:00 am
Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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I acknowledge these are Estimates and the Minister is anticipating costs and more or less setting out what she will spend. Recently, the Commissioner set up a special unit to deal with the Charleton inquiry and she took back two guys who had retired. Five barristers were dealing with the same issue a few weeks ago. How are these costs factored in? In the interest of transparency, it would be good to see how much these cost and, for example, how much is spent on public relations.
On another question, I will not name the individual but I raised this matter with the Garda Commissioner at the committee meeting two weeks ago. It relates to a garda from the Bray division who has been in the High Court twice and is due to be back there again soon. The third case alone is expected to cost €100,000 for the State. How does the Department deal with such costs and how are they factored in? Is it possible to calculate exactly what sums will accrue for legal costs?