Results 1-20 of 97 for gsoc speaker:Brian Stanley

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (18 Apr 2024)

Brian Stanley: .... She wrote back to us to provide the information we requested in relation to public services apprenticeship programmes for junior investigators in the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. Is it agreed to note and publish that item of correspondence? Agreed. Deputy Catherine Murphy had flagged this item and she wishes to comment on it.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 24 - Justice
Vote 21 - Prisons (15 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: ...matters: appropriation accounts 2022; Vote 21 - Prisons; and Vote 24 - Justice. The committee has flagged a number of issues, such as the resourcing of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, and the International Protection Office, as areas of interest. We are joined by the following officials from the Department of Justice: Ms Oonagh McPhillips, Secretary General;...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: .... With him is Mr. Ciaran Crowe, audit manager at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. This morning we will engage with officials from the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, to examine financial statements for 2022 for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The committee has flagged the timelines for the processing and completion of complaints...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: .... It puts a cloud over them and puts them in a difficult situation from the point of view of their careers, families and communities. It is important for that to be dealt with. At the moment, GSOC has 23 vacancies. According to Grant Thornton, there is a need for 180 extra staff. At the moment, there is a total of 160 staff. How many of those are investigators?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: Would GSOC need 60 investigators?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: GSOC does not have the staff to carry out investigations in a timely manner. That is clear. It is at about half capacity. Some members of the public would raise the matter of former members of the Garda being involved in an investigation on behalf of GSOC. Would GSOC find any difficulties around that or any conflict around judging performance?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: Are there situations where GSOC feels it is being obstructed or there is undue delay?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: In terms of power, does GSOC rely on the courts? That is a long and costly process.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: Is GSOC in need of new powers in this regard?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: Prior to the new Act, what were the two or three biggest deficiencies in GSOC's powers, in relation to the legislation that was there? Where were the biggest gaps?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: That is okay. Does Mr. Whelan feel that hampered GSOC's work a lot?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: ...is to investigate and there are fewer than 30 investigators out of 160 staff. Mr. Justice MacCabe might like to comment on this. It strikes me that there is an imbalance there. That is GSOC's call. It can decide how it manages staff and the number of staff needed in different positions. On the face of it, it would seem like a huge imbalance and that there should be a greater number of...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: I think it was acknowledged here that there is a shortage of actual investigators and a problem recruiting them. I also want to put a follow-on question. Has GSOC, through the Department of Justice, fed this into the Department of further and higher education? One of the things that niggles at me - hardly a week goes by without us dealing with it - is that we are awful in this State at...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: GSOC needs to be more active in following up on what action is being taken. If it has looked for something, it should ascertain what is happening in that regard and whether progress is being made. That is important. I ask that GSOC follow up in that way. The committee should be making a recommendation that the issue needs to be fixed. There is a problem there. I will bring in Ms...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: ...the process takes time. There are things that cannot be rushed and it takes time to get information and evidence and all that, but it is clear this is a fundamental problem at the heart of GSOC and the process. There is a new Act but it will not be worth the paper it is written on if the tools to implement it are not provided. It is not fair to GSOC, gardaí who have complaints...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: I want to touch on a few points around the Dublin riots. GSOC had the powers to open a public interest investigation. With regard to the riots, it is clear from video footage, news bulletins and individual members of the Garda that a number of gardaí were left in very dangerous situations. One was left on his own in a van that was surrounded by people who threatened to set it on fire....

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: I am asking GSOC specifically. No one else is here today.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: On the evening, it was clear that there was a complete breakdown in the planning and management of the force. I understand that for GSOC to carry out an investigation of the Commissioner, it must have clearance from the Minister. Have you considered seeking that?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: Will GSOC be following up on this with the Policing Authority?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022 - Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (8 Feb 2024)

Brian Stanley: ..., in 2020 there were 1,955 which was an 11% increase on 2019. In 2021, there were 2,189 complaints, which was a 12% increase on the previous year. The curve has been going steadily upwards. GSOC has helpfully set out the nature of those complaints in pie charts. Of the admissible complaints, 20% related to abuse of authority, 33% to neglect of duty, and 11% to discourtesy. Those three...