Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I too support this section, with which I have no problems. Regarding a similar provision in the legislation for the secondment of members of police services outside the State to assist the ombudsman commission, I made inquiries with the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and was told that she did not use members of the PSNI to carry out her work. She uses only members of other police forces. Our legislation provides that we may use members of the Garda Síochána, allowing them to be seconded to the ombudsman commission. That should be reviewed since, as much as possible, we should ensure that the ombudsman commission does not use members of the Garda Síochána to carry out its work. They should come from other police forces, since that is best practice. I know it is related only indirectly to this amendment, but I felt this was the best juncture at which to make that point.