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

On 18 February 2014, I gave the Cabinet my assessment of the seriousness for both the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Síochána, and more widely for public confidence in the enforcement of law, of the ongoing controversy relating to reports of unlawful surveillance of GSOC. The Government subsequently appointed retired High Court judge, Mr. Justice John Cooke, to conduct an independent inquiry into this matter. The terms of reference for the inquiry were agreed by the Government, with the advice of the Attorney General. Mr. Justice Cooke was asked to report within eight weeks or as soon as may be thereafter. On 27 February 2014, the Government appointed Mr. Sean Guerin, SC, to conduct an independent inquiry into certain allegations made by Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe. The Government, again with the advice of the Attorney General, agreed the terms of reference for this independent inquiry. Mr Guerin was asked to deliver a report within eight weeks or as soon as may be thereafter. The reports of both Mr. Justice Cooke and Mr. Guerin are currently awaited. Their finalisation is a matter exclusively for Mr. Justice Cooke and Mr. Guerin, but I expect that they will be received shortly.

As Deputy Niall Collins is aware, the Government at its meeting of 25 March 2014 reiterated its commitment to the reform of Garda oversight and accountability, which will include the establishment of an independent Garda authority appropriate to Ireland’s needs and which will maintain appropriate democratic accountability to the Oireachtas. The Government will bring forward the full detail of its comprehensive reform proposals in the coming months following the completion of the current inquiries by Mr. Justice Cooke and Mr. Guerin, the forthcoming hearings by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on the law relating to GSOC, and the review of the Garda Síochána which is currently under way under the Haddington Road agreement. That process will be assisted by the new Cabinet committee on justice reform, which had its first meeting on Monday.

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