Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses today for all their submissions. First, I know Fórsa's primary issue is around the change of the status of civilian staff working in Garda stations throughout the country and what that will do. I thank Fórsa very much. We met a couple of months ago with regard to this issue. We recognise it is a serious problem that really changes the status of so many people who work in Garda stations. Outside of this, clearly the view is it is to allow people who work closely with members of An Garda Síochána in Garda stations and who perhaps would have access to privileged information and so forth also to come under the remit of GSOC. I imagine that is one of the reasons for this. Does Fórsa see any other way in which that can be resolved apart from outside of the proposal in the legislation?

I will come back to the issue of GSOC. I take note, of course, that the status of members of An Garda Síochána at all ranks must be respected, and their status of employment and right to have due diligence in respect of how things are investigated and looked at needs to be absolutely ensured and guaranteed.

That said, predominantly the information coming to us as elected representatives from members of the public is that they are very dissatisfied with how GSOC engages in investigations. There is a view abroad, which the legislation seeks to address, that it is very much a case of the Garda investigating the Garda and that is not appropriate. I am sure none of our witnesses would consider that to be appropriate. As with any other body of the State, we need to have an independent means of carrying out this work and to ensure it is done properly. Is there an appetite among the representatives of An Garda Síochána to see progressive change that can give people more confidence than they have had to date? It is in the interests of all of their members that there would be an increase in public confidence because currently confidence is very low in regard to the complaints and oversight procedures in place.