Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 594: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the timeframe in which the Garda Ombudsman Commission will commence its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27942/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commissioners were appointed by the President on 10 February 2006, following nomination by the Government and recommendations by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Commission is in a preparatory stage at present. I understand that the initial work of the Commission has involved study visits to their counterparts in Northern Ireland and the UK and initial meetings with the various stakeholders involved in the Garda complaints system, such as Garda management, the Garda representative bodies and officials of my Department.

This process is aimed at enabling the Commission to establish principles regarding its approach to investigating complaints and to work on the development of operational protocols with the Garda Síochána. Consultations are also on-going between the Commissioners, my Department and the Department of Finance in regard to staffing matters. The Commission is aiming to be in a position to receive complaints as soon as possible in 2007.