Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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290. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the personal belongings of a person (details supplied) would be held by the National Immigration Bureau six months after a court case was resolved regarding immigration matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30010/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the issues raised are a matter for the Garda authorities in the first instance and I have no direct role in relation to them.

I am not aware of the details of the particular case the Deputy is referring to. Nevertheless, if the person referred to requires access to an item which was seized by Gardaí, then contact should be made with the Garda National Immigration Bureau in order to facilitate such access.

It is the case that where any dispute arises as to the ownership of property in the possession of An Garda Síochána, an application may be made to the District Court pursuant to the Police Property Act 1897, for an order as to the proper disposal of the property.

I note also that there is a reference in the details supplied to a GSOC reference number. As the Deputy is aware the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) was established, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, to provide independent oversight of complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act stipulates that GSOC is independent in the exercise of its functions and I, as Minister, have no role in the consideration or investigation of individual complaints which are made to GSOC. The person in question should contact GSOC directly about the matter.