Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Ombudsman Commission commenced operations in May 2007. From May 2007 to the end of January 2013 the Garda Ombudsman Commission has received 13,673 complaints of which 7,718 were deemed to be admissible in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 2005. During this period the ombudsman advised that the commission referred 149 cases to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions which has directed prosecutions in relation to 41 of these cases.

The application of discipline to members of the Garda Síochána is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. The information on the number of complaints to the Ombudsman Commission under the 2005 Act which resulted in the imposition of disciplinary processes against individual members of the Garda Síochána has been requested from the Commissioner but was not available for today's answer. I will revert separately to the Deputy in this regard when the information is to hand.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is an independent body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. While funding for the Ombudsman Commission is channelled through my Department, as the Minister for Justice and Equality, I have no function in relation to the processing of individual complaints which are referred to the commission for investigation. The commissioners are nominated by the Government and appointed under presidential warrant following the passage of resolutions by both Houses recommending their appointment.

I am satisfied that the Garda Ombudsman Commission has been provided with appropriate powers under the 2005 Act to ensure independent oversight of the Garda Síochána and that it has effectively discharged its functions to date.

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