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

GSOC is a very important body and Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring is the chairperson. I thank her and the other commissioners for their work. It is very important that we have confidence in its work and that An Garda Síochána has confidence in it too. That means the public will have confidence as they need to know that very important role is being carried out effectively and efficiently. We have increased the resources provided to GSOC in recent times.

I am sure the Deputy was at the justice committee when the chairperson of GSOC appeared before it last year. In general terms, she called for changes to Part 4 of the Garda Síochána Act which deals with the investigation of complaints in order, as she saw it, to allow GSOC to function more effectively. She also referred to minor service issues she felt should be managed by Garda line management rather than by GSOC. I agree with her very strongly on that. We ought to find a mechanism to ensure that it can happen. She also sought changes to the powers of GSOC to require the Garda Commissioner to provide it with information and documents in the context of investigations. From the information we have at present, the rate of response on the part of gardaí to requests from GSOC has improved considerably in terms of the time limits outlined as necessary and put in place. We should be able to find a mechanism to deal with the more minor issues which are taking up so much of the time of police around the country. There is definitely a better way to do it. That is precisely what I want to examine. It may be necessary legislate for it.

When I met Ms Justice Ring and her team, I said I would review the legislation. GSOC has been there for ten years now. That review will be done very quickly by the Department. I have given that commitment to the judge. It is important to review and strengthen the legislation to deal with the issues the judge identified. On foot of the work she is doing, she is in a position to identify them first hand and she has made a submission to me in that regard.

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