Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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231. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the fact that the GSOC investigation into the death of a person (details supplied) has been ongoing for five years with no outcome for the bereaved family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42377/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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First of all I want to remind the Deputy that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission 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 and I will not do so.

However, I am very much aware of the particularly tragic case to which the Deputy's question refers.

I am aware that GSOC met with members of the family in question recently. 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.