Written answers

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Tribunals of Inquiry

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action that will be taken arising from the seven reports from the Morris tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46747/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Morris Tribunal has completed its work and has produced a total of eight reports. The Government has already taken strong action on foot of its recommendations. These include:

the passage of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the most significant piece of legislation relating to An Garda Síochána in the history of the State,

the establishment of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission with almost 100 staff — including its own investigative staff,

the establishment of the Garda Inspectorate with its international policing expertise, as a source of independent and expert advice for the Minister,

new more streamlined discipline regulations,

the imposition on members of a legal duty to account for their official actions,

the empowerment of the Garda Commissioner, with the consent of the Government, to dismiss a member of garda, sergeant or inspector rank where he has lost confidence in the capacity of the member to discharge his or her duty and where dismissal is necessary to maintain public confidence in the Force,

new promotion regulations and a competency based promotion system,

a whistleblowers' charter and the appointment of an eminent former senior civil servant as a Confidential Recipient.

Other areas of organisational development and modernisation are being progressed within the terms of reference of the Garda Síochána's published Corporate Strategy 2007 to 2009 including a number of specific change projects under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Change Management. These changes are indicative of unprecedented reform and a new era in policing and will go a long way to ensuring that the events in Donegal will not be repeated.

Finally, it is my understanding that the Dail Committee on Procedures and Privileges has established a sub-Committee to consider Mr Justice Morris's recommendations as to how public representatives should deal with anonymous allegations.

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