Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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81. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will establish a public inquiry into the policing of protests related to the Shell/Corrib gas project at Rossport, County Mayo. [26754/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Significant protest activity over a number of years has occurred in the North Mayo area connected with the development of a very important natural resource. This has necessitated the temporary redeployment of large numbers of Gardaí, including specially trained personnel, from throughout the Western Region into the Belmullet District.

The reality is that substantial Garda resources have to be tied up in the policing of protest activity at this location. This has been necessary in view of the actions of some of the protestors, many of whom are not from the area and engage in acts of public disorder as well as damage to property. The action of some of the protestors was designed not just to register their disapproval of the work going on there but to try to prevent that work proceeding. The aim of these policing measures is to prevent public order offences and to ensure that people can go about their lawful business. From 2011 to 2013, 38 defendants were brought before the courts for public order offences, criminal damage and assault on Gardaí in connection with the protests at the Corrib site. The total cost of policing these protests has now reached in excess of €16m. This does not include the significant cost of the basic salaries of the members of An Garda Síochána who have performed duties at the Corrib Gas Project as these arise in the normal course. Such expenditure comes at a time of economic difficulty for the State and when such resources could be put to far better use elsewhere.

I am not aware of any basis on which I should initiate a public inquiry into what of its nature is a difficult policing operation. It is, of course, open to persons to make complaints to GSOC. In fact, GSOC has investigated in the region of 124 complaints against members of the force arising from policing at this location and that other matters remain under investigation by it. In excess of 100 of these complaints have either been found by GSOC to be inadmissible or not to have disclosed breaches of discipline on the part of the members complained of, and that those that did indicate a breach of discipline on the part of the Garda member concerned related to the behaviour of the individual member rather than practices, policies or procedures within An Garda Síochána.

As I have indicated previously, a review is ongoing on the effectiveness of the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and Regulations made under the Act insofar as they relate to the oversight of the Garda Síochána and the powers and remit of the Ombudsman Commission. I have already indicated that I will bring forward very urgent legislation to strengthen the powers and remit of GSOC and this will allow GSOC to undertake reviews of Garda practices, policies and procedures on their own initiative.