Results 21-40 of 44 for gsoc segment:8621118

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Mr. Hugh Hume: We would not be privy to that information because the Garda Commissioner manages all that. GSOC may only be one factor in determining suspension so we would not be aware of all that information. That is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Eugene Murphy: So GSOC has no knowledge of this even though it is investigating.

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Mr. Peter Whelan: When a death or serious harm occurs and the Commissioner makes the decision that it may have resulted from the conduct of a garda, he refers it to GSOC. When it comes to us, it is a case of we shall investigate so we must then carry out an investigation. Because such cases are so serious, we would carry out a very comprehensive investigation. It is usually very long and...

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Eugene Murphy: I admire Mr. Justice MacCabe's honesty. I understand that GSOC has a very difficult job to do and I am sure the witnesses are all very honourable people who want to see that fair play is given to everybody but it is as well to be honest here. The perception among the public is that once it hears on the news that GSOC is involved, the Garda is guilty. I am sorry to say that this is the...

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Mr. Justice Rory MacCabe: He or she has access to the courts. The courts then have a duty to review the case and decide whether GSOC acted within or outside its mandate or, in any event, came up with a decision that was irrational. That is effectively judicial oversight of the oversight body, which is correct.

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Fintan Warfield: ...identify faces incorrectly, particularly those of women and people of colour. The ICCL also stated that in its opinion the use of such technology is neither necessary nor proportionate. Does GSOC have any comment to make about whether the use of such technology would be good, bad or effective for the organisation in carrying out its own work? Having consideration for those concerns,...

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Mr. Hugh Hume: It is a matter for Oireachtas to decide if body-worn video and facial recognition software should exist in the State. From GSOC's point of view, the equipment may be useful. Our comparator in Northern Ireland published reports on the use of body-worn video and how that allows it to assess complaints and make a determination around what has happened at an incident. No...

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

...through Whitehall. They always felt as if they were going with their begging bowls to Whitehall which then processed the application for funding to Europe. They resented that. The situation with GSOC is that it does not have its own Vote. That means GSOC has to apply to the Department of Justice which passes the application on, having applied whatever filter it thinks is appropriate,...

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Tim Lombard: GSOC could potentially become a significantly larger organisation. That would bring benefits but also, obviously, more work. The question was asked, "Who regulates the regulator?", which is a very significant statement. What process would fall into place to make sure the regulator is doing an appropriate job regarding its own staff or situation?

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Mr. Justice Rory MacCabe: GSOC would still be subject to the Comptroller and Auditor General, in the same way as our Vote, or money, is now subject to the Comptroller and Auditor General via the Department of Justice Vote.

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Tim Lombard: If I had to make a disclosure, who could GSOC then make a disclosure to regarding the investigative powers of an officer? Let us say, hypothetically obviously, that a protected disclosure was required in a scenario, to whom would the person make a protected disclosure?

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Mr. Hugh Hume: Is the Senator referring to a Garda member or a member of GSOC staff making a protected disclosure?

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Tim Lombard: I am referring to a member of GSOC's staff. That is only complete-----

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

...: We have an internal process for the investigation of protected disclosures by staff members. We have not received any protected disclosures this year or last year but there is a process for GSOC's internal examination of those.

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Eugene Murphy: ...I asked a question about gardaí who have been suspended and whether they had been suspended for minor issues. What would be the most minor cases? To revert to what my colleagues said about what GSOC needs now in terms of resources and staff, how many more staff does GSOC need now to do its job properly? I thank the witnesses again for their engagement.

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Mr. Hugh Hume: To reiterate around the suspensions, An Garda Síochána does not tell GSOC all the rationales for suspending members so we do not know. While GSOC carries out significant investigations into gardaí, the Garda investigates matters that arise from within its own knowledge and ability and it suspends members based on information it has or complaints it is dealing...

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

...officers, AIOs, so at any one time we can cope with maybe 400 investigations. That does not take into account many other factors, for example, where we have a major investigation coming in. GSOC has between 900 and 1,200 cases on hand at any one time, so would need significantly more than the 40 staff. On cases of suspensions, GSOC does two types of investigation. One is a...

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Pat Buckley: I thank Mr. Justice Rory MacCabe, chairperson of GSOC, Mr. Hugh Hume, commissioner, Mr. Peter Whelan, director of operations and investigations, and Ms Valerie Woods, deputy director of administration, for coming to speak to the committee. This session was very beneficial. I thank them for their honesty. I will suspend the meeting to allow the witnesses to leave.

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

Mr. Justice Rory MacCabe: Before we go, I repeat the invitation we issued to the committee last year. Please pick up the phone and talk to us or come down to GSOC, have a look around and see it in action.

Committee on Public Petitions: An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Annual Report 2021: Discussion (1 Jun 2023)

...supplementary briefing material provided. We thought it would be a good idea to relate some of this fresher information to the committee, not least because, as members are aware, this time next year GSOC will no longer exist. Indeed, it is in the context of the significant institutional reforms facing GSOC that we meet with the committee today. Since our last meeting the Policing,...