John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

We welcome the power given to the ombudsman in section 94(4) to initiate an investigation.

Section 66 appears to envisage a need for gardaí to provide special assistance to the ombudsman commission but is it not damaging to the independence of the ombudsman commission if members of the Garda are brought in to investigate other gardaí? If persons of particular expertise are required, why can they not be from the UK, Canada, France or elsewhere?

The Bill is welcome, although it has many shortcomings. The sections about which I am concerned are those on the Garda volunteer force and the additional powers to the Minister. I welcome the local authority involvement. I am concerned that when Garda stations are to be searched the ombudsman must notify them prior to their investigation. If one were to have a hygiene audit, there would be little point in giving notice that it would take place the next day.

We welcome the last-minute decision to amend the Bill to provide for the Garda inspectorate. One reservation we have is that the inspectorate could have been established as part of the ombudsman's commission rather than as a separate body. It is extraordinary that we will have the appointment of an inspectorate and an ombudsman's commission when we could have had the one office.

I am delighted to speak on the Bill. It is vital that we reassure and involve the public. I hope the local authority involvement is not just lip service and that citizens of the State will be involved in the important consultation that will take place with residents, local authority representatives and politicians in their own areas to discuss the important issue of law and order.

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