Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

We are discussing the functionality of GSOC, which is a critically important issue. It is not just us or members of the public saying so, the United Nations Human Rights Committee also expressed concern at the functioning of GSOC and made the point that Ireland should proceed with strengthening the organisation. I view this amendment as a step in that direction.

Some excellent initiatives were taken under the auspices of the three current commissioners, although one has just left. The actions of these people have succeeded in bringing into the public domain the intransigent nature of the relationship with senior members of the Garda Síochána. It was forced into publishing its report on the Boylan affair and its annual reports highlight in no uncertain terms how senior members of the Garda Síochána were blocking the efforts of GSOC to do its job.

GSOC is a dysfunctional organisation and many of the people who work in it believe it was set up to fail. The way it was set up, one could not come to any other conclusion. The Minister's proposal does not address that. It will still be dysfunctional and toothless after this Bill is passed. A moved to a single commissioner would be a step in the right direction.

I am disappointed the Minister for Justice and Equality is not present in the Chamber. I am disappointed at her lack of interest in police reform. I was disappointed when I sought answers to parliamentary questions since Christmas in light of the resignation of the chairman, Mr. Simon O'Brien. I asked the Minister on two separate occasions whether she could reassure me that the reason for the retirement of the outgoing chairman, who was personally overseeing a number of sensitive cases involving Garda whistleblowers with serious allegations against senior management and cases that have major implications for senior members of the Garda Síochána, had nothing to do with these cases and that she had discussed the matter with him. The Minister has not answered these questions, which are relevant to this debate.

On a number of occasions, Deputies Mick Wallace and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and I met the GSOC commissioners. We were the only committee members present the first time the commissioners appeared in Leinster House two years ago. The briefing to the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions was shocking in terms of the difficulties GSOC has had. GSOC is on record as saying the relationship improved subsequently but later we will deal with the fact that this is not the case. This is a good measure and I do not see any reason why the Minister would oppose it. I echo the point made by Deputy Mick Wallace that we are not dealing with the people in these positions losing their jobs. It involves a reconfiguration. If the Garda Commissioner has two deputy commissioners, I do not see why the GSOC Commissioner cannot have two deputies. If no one is the boss, it is difficult to get clarity.

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