Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The replacement of the Royal Ulster Constabulary by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2001 as recommended by the Patten report marked a new beginning for policing and for public confidence in policing in Northern Ireland. As part of that transformation in policing, accountability mechanisms are in place for the Service, including the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Policing Board. The Policing Board is an independent public body made up of Political and Independent members tasked with ensuring an effective, efficient, impartial, representative and accountable police service which commands the confidence of the whole community. The Police Ombudsman’s office also offers an impartial system for the handling of complaints about the conduct of police officers. Complaints and concerns about policing policy and operations are normally pursued through these bodies.

I note the comments made by the Deputy First Minister in relation to the PSNI on 1 May. I also note that on the evening of 3 May, the President of Sinn Féin, Mr Gerry Adams TD re-iterated his support for the PSNI, which I welcome. This statement of clarified earlier remarks and was in line with Sinn Féin’s consistent support for policing since they joined the Northern Ireland Policing Board in 2007.