Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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572. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she proposes to appoint a High Court judge to preside over an inquiry into a recent death (details supplied) as requested by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22078/15]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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585. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out her views on an incident involving the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (details supplied); her views on whether the commission acted appropriately in this case; if she has sought an explanation from the commission on the delay in issuing correspondence; and if she will agree to an external inquiry into the commission's handling of the issue. [22246/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 585 together.

First and foremost, let me again express my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Garda Sgt. Michael Galvin.

I met with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors (AGSI) on 4 June, 2015. Having consulted with GSOC at my meeting with them in accordance with Section 109 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, I announced subsequently my decision to initiate an inquiry by an independent judicial figure into the conduct of the original GSOC investigation under section 109. Accordingly I have requested the Chief Justice to invite a judge to inquire into the matter and to report to me as Minister.

In the circumstances I do not propose to comment further on the matter at this time.