Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring:

In terms of the public's dealings with local Garda, the local intervention initiative will be a positive step, both for the Garda and their local communities. If, as anticipated under this scheme, they deal with the small things, maybe in time they will also properly deal with some of the bigger things, which will reduce complaints coming to us. It has yet to be seen, because it is in its early stages, and is only just over a year in operation. The other, much bigger question, which is an internal one, is how the Garda service deals with misconduct at every level.

That is something we have no role in. We may recommend somebody should be subject to discipline but ultimately that is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. If, as Mr. Justice Charleton said at the end of his dealings with the disclosures tribunal, the system is complicated, lengthy and undermined, then discipline is a problem for the Garda and ultimately the community. We may feed it information under our current remit or even into the future. How the organisation deals with that information, in terms of disciplining members, will ultimately be for it to decide. We, like everyone else, will watch that with interest.