Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the follow up that is being planned further to the meeting with persons (details supplied) regarding the tragic death of their son. [42992/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As I have previously explained to the Deputy, this tragic case was considered under the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) and the recommendation was that no further action should be taken. Counsel for the IRM pointed out that the appropriate forum for raising matters related to alleged Garda failings was the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) who were already investigating certain matters arising from the tragic death in this case.

GSOC is an independent body tasked with the investigation of complaints against members of the Garda Síochána. That independence is crucial to confidence in the process of investigating such complaints. Therefore, it is a matter entirely for GSOC as to how it carries out its investigations and it would be entirely inappropriate for me, as Minister, to comment on any current GSOC investigation.

I am aware that GSOC met with members of the family in question recently and my understanding is they were given a full update on the current position with regard to the investigation of their complaints.

In the circumstances, I can only say that I await the outcome of the GSOC investigation. When that outcome is known, the question of whether, and if so, what further action can be taken, will be considered.