Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 5, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:“(6) (a) Where a decision is made by the Garda Commissioner to refuse in full or in part the request for assistance, the Coroner who made the request may seek a review of this decision by a Judge of the High Court.

(b) The request for a review shall be made in writing to the President of the High Court, who shall nominate a Judge of that Court to conduct the hearing.

(c) The Judge nominated under paragraph (b), shall hold a hearing in camera with the Garda Commissioner, who shall outline the basis of his refusal.

(d) The Judge nominated under paragraph (b)may direct the Commissioner to accept the request for assistance, or to accept parts of the request for assistance previously refused, if they are satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so, and if they are satisfied that to do so would not—

(i) be likely to prejudice the sovereignty, security or other essential interests of the State,

(ii) be likely to prejudice a criminal investigation, or criminal proceedings, in the State, or

(iii) otherwise be inconsistent with the functions of the Garda Síochána under section 7 of the Act of 2005.”.

The section relates to the Bill's most substantive provisions on procedures that will exist for the Garda to co-operate and provide testimony through a coroner's inquest. It deals with how the force will accede to a request from an inquest that would involve a garda of a rank not lower than chief superintendent being questioned by a judge in the High Court and then it being witnessed by the coroner or his or her representatives who have requested the information. The procedure is that the request comes into the Garda Commissioner who consults the Minister. The Garda Commissioner then makes a decision to accept the request for assistance, refuse it or accept it in part. In refusing, having consulted the Minister, the Garda Commissioner must be satisfied that the request may likely prejudice the sovereignty, security or other essential interests of the State or may likely prejudice a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings within the State or otherwise be inconsistent with the functions of the Garda Síochána under section 7 of the Act of 2005.

The procedures are well and good. However, the reality is that the decision is ultimately that of the Garda Commissioner alone. There is no scope for review or oversight. It gives him or her considerable power. Given the weight and importance of these inquires for families and survivors who are seeking the truth about Troubles-related deaths or incidents, the coroner should be entitled not to agree with what he or she may consider an unfair decision.

This amendment, through a careful mechanism, provides for a coroner who has had his or her request refused to seek a review of the decision by a judge of the High Court. The judge, who would be nominated by the President of the High Court, would hold an in camerahearing with the Garda Commissioner, who would outline the basis for his or her refusal. The same judge would have to have regard to the same three considerations, namely, that acceptance may likely prejudice the sovereignty, security or other essential interests of the State, that it may likely prejudice a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings in the State or otherwise be inconsistent with the functions of the Garda Síochána under section 7 of the 2005 Act. The judge, therefore, would then have to decide whether to agree and accept the argument of the Garda Commissioner and whether he or she believes that the Garda Commissioner should co-operate with the request from the coroner or whatever organisation is seeking that request.

In the context of what we are talking about, namely, the weight of the situation and the sensitivities involved, it is right for the coroner to have the opportunity in a careful way to have this decision reviewed and reconsidered. Such judge-led oversight is not unusual for such legislation as this, whether in this jurisdiction or elsewhere. It is a proportionate and carefully weighted amendment but one that is important to ensure every opportunity is given to coroners to have maximum co-operation from An Garda Síochána in any inquest or any request that comes forward.

I am keen to hear the Minister's view. He will appreciate our view on the importance of giving further oversight, accountability and a layer of governance. All these factors are important as we move the legislation forward. I will not prolong the House.