Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Clare Daly has referred to section 9 which includes new provisions that underpin the requirement on An Garda Commissioner to provide information for GSOC. It inserts a new section, section 103A, into the Garda Síochána Act, placing a statutory obligation on the Commissioner to provide GSOC with information as soon as practicable. I took the advice of the Attorney General on the wording of the section. Without specifying a specific time which would not work effectively in the management of work to be done, this is as strong a provision as I can include. The statutory obligation to provide information GSOC requires in carrying out its functions is strong. The information must be given to it. There is statutory underpinning of the obligation to provide it. It applies to the PULSE system and nothing in the section excludes information from a particular place. It also operates in respect of alterations made to it. ICT systems will be developed by An Garda Síochána, to which this section will apply.

In response to Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn's comments on the Estimates and ICT, at the time the Estimates were introduced I said that, given the serious concerns expressed by the Garda Inspectorate about the state of technology and the technology needs of an Garda Síochána, I had had discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, and at the Cabinet. There was a commitment to provide the moneys necessary to begin to develop the right ICT infrastructure. I set up a working group with representatives from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. I am pleased to say the group has made good progress and I hope to have a final draft of its recommendations shortly. We will then consider them, depending on resources. We will have for the first time a map of ICT needs in An Garda Síochána. It will include security needs. If we do not have a clear map of what is needed, the ad hocarrangements we have had will continue. There is a serious need to upgrade and I am confident that the Government will support the development needed over a period of time.

See this speech in context