Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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569. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will publish the Cooke report; the actions she will take in view of the findings in the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25596/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Judge Cooke's report was forwarded to the Department of the Taoiseach and was published on their website on 10 June, 2014. The key finding of the report was that the evidence did not support the proposition that actual surveillance of the kind asserted in the Sunday Times Article took place and much less that it was carried out by members of the Garda Síochána. The Government has accepted in full the findings and conclusions of the Report.

This Government is implementing a comprehensive programme of reform in the areas of policing and justice in the State. As part of this reform I am bringing forward new legislation to reform, strengthen and clarify the remit of GSOC. The Cooke Report will inform how we will proceed with our reforms. Specific responses to the Cooke Report include;

- The proposed new bill to reform the workings of GSOC will clarify the legal basis under which GSOC can initiate a Public Interest Investigation as well as the thresholds for initiating such an investigation.

- The proposed new bill will further clarify and strengthen provisions relating to the preparation and implementation of protocols relating to cooperation between Gardai and GSOC.

- The Department of Justice and Equality will carry out an examination of the resources available to GSOC.

- Both GSOC and the Garda Commissioner will be asked to provide a response to the Cooke report.

- The Cooke Report will be referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality for further consideration and discussion.

I am very grateful to Judge Cooke for his detailed and authoritative analysis of these issues. I look forward to the opportunity on Thursday 19 June, 2014 for the House to discuss the Report in detail.