Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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576. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the terms of reference and manner in which the group she has established to deal with historic cases will function, including access for citizens who have not yet made their case known to the authorities; and the amount of time for which it will operate. [31040/14]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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577. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will make available legal assistance for an organisation (details supplied) for the conduct of cases which will be reviewed by the body she has established to look at historic cases. [31041/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 577 together.

I am establishing a mechanism for the independent review by counsel of allegations concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána or inadequacies in the investigation of such allegations which have been made to the Taoiseach or the Minister for Justice and Equality.

The review will consist of an examination by counsel of the papers in each case. Counsel will be asked in each case to make a recommendation to me on what further action, if any, might be appropriate, and I will carefully consider each such recommendation. The work of counsel will begin shortly, and the aim is to have the majority of cases reviewed within a period of between 8 and 12 weeks.

Many of the allegations are historic in nature, and it is important to emphasise that any member of the public who wishes to make a current complaint regarding Garda conduct may contact the independent Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.