Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

From time to time, a Minister with responsibility for justice will receive information. I have not received such information since I became Minister. As a result of the changes made in 2005, the Garda Ombudsman Commission is now up and running and has received a substantial number of complaints on issues brought to its attention by members of the public. The Garda Ombudsman Commission, which replaced the Garda Complaints Board, is a good vehicle. People such as Deputy Rabbitte encouraged it to be put in place to allow these issues to be dealt with so we do not have tribunals. Those gardaí who tend to operate in this way will be cognisant of the fact that stringent conditions and legislation are in place to deal with it.

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