Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Under section 103 of the Act, where an investigation of public interest into the Garda is initiated by GSOC, it is required to report. The Minister for Justice and Equality will go before the Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions. That committee was set up by this Government and it now deals with this purpose. The Minister has no difficulty in going before the committee to deal with whatever questions, concerns or anxieties members of the committee might have. The Minister's sole remit is to obtain the facts and the truth because, as we have said on many occasions, it is imperative that the working relationship between and the integrity and credibility of the Garda Síochána and GSOC be maintained at the highest level. Under section 103, the duties imposed by subsection 1 do not extend to requiring the ombudsman to provide information where disclosure would, in its opinion, prejudice a criminal investigation or prosecution, jeopardise a person's safety or for any other reason is not in the public interest.

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