Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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19. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the appointment procedure for the incoming chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission; if there has been further correspondence or meetings between her Department and the GSOC following the publication of the findings in the Cooke Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1401/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Mr Simon O'Brien, the Chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, has recently indicated that he intends to resign his position, with effect from 30 January 2015, to take up a position in the UK. Mr O'Brien has made an important contribution to his role as the Chair of GSOC as well as his previous role as Deputy to the Chief Inspector in the Garda Inspectorate, and I wish him all the best in his new career.

With regard to the vacancy arising on foot of Mr O’Brien’s resignation, the appointment of members of the Ombudsman Commission is governed by section 65 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This stipulates that the Commission consists of 3 members, all of whom are to be appointed by the President on the nomination of the Government, following the passage of resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas recommending the appointments. The 2005 Act requires that the Government must be satisfied that persons nominated have the appropriate experience, qualifications, training or expertise for appointment having regard to the functions of the Commission.

The Government will now, in accordance with the 2005 Act, consider the question of a nomination for the position of Chairperson of GSOC.

My Department is in regular contact with GSOC, both by way of correspondence and meetings, and this has continued to be the case subsequent to the publication of the report by Judge Cooke. I personally met with the members of GSOC, most recently on 27 November 2014.