Seanad debates

Tuesday, 9 December 2003

Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages.

 

10:45 am

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I wish to make a point on the issue of information. I do not wish to embroil myself in the row that is taking place on the other side of the House. I raised the issue of information on Second Stage and the Minister kindly replied. As I understand it, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland cannot investigate alleged incidents that occur to PSNI officers in Northern Ireland where information that is sought south of the Border cannot be given by the Garda authorities to the police ombudsman. That issue must be addressed. We all support the new dispensation on policing. We support the police ombudsman's work in investigating complaints made against officers. It is ludicrous that we cannot give information to the ombudsman in Northern Ireland where that information is sought by the Garda Síochána. I welcome the Minister's statement in his concluding remarks on Second Stage that the matter will be resolved in the context of new legislation concerning the Garda Síochána, but it also works the other way. We have a responsibility to ensure these new institutions work. We must change our legislative framework to ensure that information works on a two way basis.

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