Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

286. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the costs associated with the independent review mechanism, including to whom the payments were made. [3018/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is referring to the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach. A panel consisting of two Senior and five Junior Counsel was established for the purpose, all selected on the basis of their experience of the criminal justice system.

The Panel has provided recommendations to me in all 320 cases submitted to them and has therefore largely concluded its work. Counsel were paid a fee on a case by case basis of €300, €550 or €800 depending on the complexity of each case. Senior Counsel additionally had a brief fee of €30,000 to oversee the operation of the mechanism and ensure consistency of approach across all the cases. Junior Counsel were paid a retention fee of €8,000.

Judge Roderic Murphy was paid approximately €19,000 in respect of his role and a further cost of €4,500 was incurred in the provision of legal assistance to him. Other briefing and case fees have arisen during the course of the Independent Review Mechanism process; however a final figure in respect of these is not yet available.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

287. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to initiate a statutory inquiry and criminal investigation into the death of a person (details supplied). [3051/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The particular case to which the Deputy refers is amongst those considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case. A panel consisting of two senior and five junior counsel was established for that purpose.

The Panel has provided recommendations to me in all 320 cases submitted to them and has therefore largely concluded its work. The issuing of notification letters to complainants commenced on 29 June. To date, 307 complainants have been notified of the outcome of the review of their cases. Letters will continue to issue to all complainants, until the process is completed which I expect will be very shortly as we are nearing the end of the process.

It was open to the review mechanism to make recommendations as they saw fit in relation to each case. I have previously assured Deputies that where further investigation has been recommended by the review then that will occur.

I have accepted counsel's independent recommendation with regard to the case concerning the person referred to by the Deputy and have notified the family accordingly. I will be consulting the Attorney General about all the matters that need to be taken into account in carrying out that recommendation.