Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her approach to this issue. I am conscious that she is new in the Department and that this is a fresh start. Later this year we will look at legislation to strengthen the powers of the ombudsman and make them clear. Deputy Niall Collins alluded to the meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence with the ombudsman in the North and the PSNI board. What is clear is that the ombudsman in the North has clear legislation covering its powers, full discovery and the co-operation it expects to receive. There has been a history of Garda senior management procrastinating when it comes to co-operating with the Garda ombudsman. In the case of the murder of Mr. Seamus Doherty in County Donegal and other cases, there must be no doubt that full co-operation in a timely fashion is expected in order that the Garda ombudsman can do its job speedily and have the full confidence of the public that it has the power, ability and resources to get to the bottom of allegations.

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