Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

It is at a time when gardaí are being used to protect private water metering companies and Irish Water. Communities see that resources are available at the drop of a hat for that but not to protect them when they are in danger from breaches of barring orders and so on.

I ask the Minister to tell the House why she is maintaining a barrier in the way of GSOC which prevents it investigating the Commissioner. It is a Third World situation. Surely, if one is establishing an independent investigative agency, it should be truly independent and autonomous.

I welcome some of the moves in the Bill. At least, the Commissioner will come under the remit of GSOC, which body is given some additional powers. However, the central issue on the Commissioner is a glaring one. Why does the Government refuse to break the stranglehold over GSOC?

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