Dáil debates

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Estimates for Public Services 2014 - Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary Estimate)

 

6:35 pm

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know of the difficulties faced by Gráinne McMorrow, senior counsel, in the most recent statutory investigation under the Commission of Investigation Act 2004. Ms McMorrow was appointed in 2007, but her report was only published by the former Minister, Deputy Shatter, a week ago, seven and a half years after the horrific death of Mr. Gary Douch while in the care of the State. I can only imagine the additional and unnecessary distress and trauma caused to Mr. Douch's family by the delay. It appears that the State's conduct was a primary factor in that delay - there were delays in providing important documents, primary evidence was destroyed and there was a long delay in payment to Ms McMorrow for her work. Last June, it was noted that she had not been paid in more than three years, most of which time was during the lifetime of the current Government. It is a pity that under the 2004 Act any commission must be dependent on the Minister of the day to sanction its expenses.

Given the fact that the remit of the Garda tapes inquiry dwarfs that statutory investigation, it is difficult to see how Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly will be able to complete his extensive investigation in just six months. Will the Taoiseach confirm whether the commission will consider publishing Mr. Justice Fennelly's conclusions on a volume-by-volume basis, as occurred in the case of the Morris tribunal? The Government might update the House on the publication date for the report arising from the Cooke paper review, which merits inclusion in these terms of reference and a statutory investigation.

The former Minister has been in possession of the Ombudsman for Children's report into possible Garda misconduct for more than six weeks but has not yet confirmed a publication date. How soon does the Government intend to publish this?

The entire episode of the alleged bugging of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, merits a full, independent inquiry. The people of Ireland are concerned about it. The Garda Commissioner and the Minister are gone. The Government needs to use this situation as an opportunity to start afresh and to do policing in the way it should be done. There are many challenges and problems, but we have not addressed them properly. It will stand to the Government if it addresses them now in an honest, transparent and accountable way.

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