Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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57. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will meet with a group (details supplied) to discuss its concerns over the appointment of the new Garda Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29554/18]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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65. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the incoming Garda Commissioner will be facilitated and encouraged to appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality to answer concerns from Deputies regarding several high profile loyalist killings and attacks here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29555/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 65 together.

Firstly let me say that I am pleased that the rigorous selection process conducted by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) on behalf of the Policing Authority has come to a successful conclusion with the recent decision by Government to appoint Mr. Drew Harris as the next Garda Commissioner. As Commissioner, Mr Harris will have the full functions of that role including safeguarding the security of the State. On taking up office in September he will, like all entrants to An Garda Síochána, make a solemn declaration under section 16 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the State.

This is the first occasion that the independent Policing Authority has exercised its function in relation  to the filling of this important position. I thank the Authority and the Public Appointments Service for their intensive work over the past ten months on this process. The selection process was an open, international one, designed with the objective of attracting thewidest possible pool of candidates from diverse backgrounds to ensure that the successful candidate would be tested against international standards in police leadership.I understand it worked well in attracting a strong field of high calibre candidates. All those who put themselves forward were subject to robust scrutiny by an independent expert interview board which determined Mr Harris to be the best person for the office at this time. 

The incoming Commissioner is a person of huge ability and the highest integrity and I know he has enormous respect for and knowledge of An Garda Síochána, having worked with members of the organisation as close colleagues over the course of his career. I have complete confidence in him and the Government agreed with my recommendation to accept the nomination of the Authority in relation to his appointment. 

I am sure that the Deputy will agree that dealing with the legacy of the troubles on this island is a complex and sensitive task, and one to which there are no easy solutions.

The Government, working with the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland, agreed a framework of measures in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement to seek to address this legacy and we are fully committed to seeing those measures put in place and working in the interests of victims and their families.

The political impasse at the Northern Ireland Executive has delayed the roll out of these measures and the Government will continue to work hard to seek the re-establishment of the Executive for the benefit of all the people of Northern Ireland.

The Garda Authorities will continue to co-operate with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in respect of all relevant criminal investigations, whether contemporary or historical, in accordance with the arrangements in place.  There is also ongoing co-operation with Coroner’s inquests in Northern Ireland and the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland in respect of historical investigations.

With regard to unresolved, troubles-related criminal investigations in this jurisdiction, the Garda Authorities will fully pursue any new evidence or information that comes to light with a view to bringing the perpetrators of crimes to justice.  There are also regular reviews of cases where it is considered that there may be grounds to advance those investigations.

As regards the Deputy's question in relation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality, that is a matter for the Committee. The Committee decides its own work programme and the individuals that it wishes to invite to appear before it and I have no function in the matter.