Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of complaints received by the Garda complaints board in the years 2000 to 2004 inclusive; the number of cases that went through the entire process; the number of cases in which sanctions were imposed on members of the force; the number of cases determined as being frivolous; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5050/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The information sought by the Deputy and furnished to me by the complaints board is set out in the attached appendix which is being circulated to members with this answer. As the Deputy will see, the annual number of complaints over the period in question has ranged from 1,175 to 1,405, with the figure for last year being 1,232.

Complaints referred to as having gone through the entire process are regarded as those which have been admitted by the chief executive for investigation, investigated by an officer of the Garda Síochána under the direction of the board and formally decided upon by the board. The number of these cases over the period in question has ranged from 373 in 2000 to 509 in 2003. The figure for last year was 507. It is important to note that the outcome of complaints listed in the appendix refers to work processed under the years in question and this includes complaints on-hand at the start of each year as well as complaints received during the year in question.

The figures for 2004 are provisional and the final figures will be included in the board's annual report which will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in due course.

As regards the sanctions imposed on members of the Garda Síochána, minor breaches of discipline are referred to the Garda Commissioner and these are dealt with under the Garda disciplinary code. Matters of a more serious nature are referred to tribunals. The figures are not yet to hand for 2004 but for the period 2000 to 2003, the outcomes of tribunal hearings resulting in Garda members being found to be in breach of discipline are as follows: