David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:“Amendment of section 65(1) of Principal Act

2. Section 65(1) of the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of “1 member, who is” for “3 members, all of whom are”.”.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh had to leave for an engagement so I am dealing with this Bill. The first amendment calls for a single ombudsman. The rationale behind the amendment of section 65(1) of the 2005 Act is to change the structure of the commission. Instead of three people, there is a single Garda Síochána ombudsman. This was debated on Committee Stage in the Dáil and in the Seanad but a single ombudsman would ensure a greater degree of accountability and ensure there is no possibility of dissenting opinions or divergence in the ombudsman's findings.