Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 9 May 2019

Public Accounts Committee

2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána

9:00 am

Mr. Drew Harris:

I am not taking issue with what was said, but the manner in which is delivered. As Commissioner, I too have a heavy responsibility for the conduct and behaviour of the organisation, up to and including criminality that members may engage in. I have a duty and responsibility to root that out as well, and I want to work with the oversight and investigations body, which is GSOC, in doing that. There is no argument on my part. I know that we have informed GSOC of major investigations that we are engaged in, and it has written to us about streamlining other processes and we can do that in the form of a regular case conference about serious matters that are progressing. All these things are achievable within the present legislative framework, because it is just a matter of sharing information.