Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether all complaints made by members of the public to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission should be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21124/08]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the remit of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission should be narrowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21123/08]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the work of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21122/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 144, 174 and 189 together.

The Ombudsman Commission is an integral part of the new Garda regulatory system introduced by the Garda Síochána Act 2005. Not alone does the Act set out the role of the Garda Síochána in policing the State and the Garda Síochána Inspectorate in benchmarking performance by reference to standards internationally, it establishes the Ombudsman Commission as a key element of the new policing framework. This role is essential in ensuring that public confidence in the Gardaí is safeguarded. The independent police ombudsman model which we have here is a relatively new one internationally. As a result there is a learning process for all the parties involved. However I am encouraged by the content of their two year report on their effectiveness and the adequacy of the functions assigned to them which concludes that they can report good progress in respect of all of their functions and objectives.

I will of course carefully consider any specific proposal the Ombudsman Commission may make, taking into account the developing experience of their workload and the new efficiencies expected to result from legislative change. I will stay in dialogue with the Ombudsman Commission on how best to continue to meet their needs. It is not my intention to seek to narrow their remit although I am of course open to the possibility of legislative change to enable them to streamline their processes with a view to optimising their resources.