Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Given that the HSE reports seem to indicate that both actions were probably Garda led, and in the Athlone case involving probably solely Garda action, why is the Ombudsman for Children investigating what seems to be principally Garda actions? Her remit, under statute, is only to look at HSE powers and if it was otherwise, we would not have to introduce legislation to give her extra powers.

We already have the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, set up as a statutory body to investigate Garda misconduct, but yet the Minister for Justice and Equality seems to be ignoring and bypassing the specific statutory role and remits already set up under law. Surely, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is in a better place to deal with issues relating to gardaí. It is structured in that manner. There is the statute in place to deal with it. Why are we asking the children's ombudsman to deal with something that is more fit for GSOC?

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