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

The Minister would be familiar with the Kieran Boylan affair. GSOC submitted a detailed report on the case and the significant lack of co-operation it received from the then Garda Commissioner on matters of the utmost seriousness. It submitted a 500-page report to the previous Minister and published a seven or eight page summary of its concerns. One of the key issues was the lack of co-operation from the Garda Commissioner. The episode demonstrated the need for clarity that, in order to be effective, the Garda Ombudsman needs full authority to fully investigate every member of the Garda Síochána, up to and including the Garda Commissioner. We must ensure the Bill allows the Garda Ombudsman to do this without the shadow of a doubt, leaving aside the security issues which we will deal with in a separate amendment.

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