Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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140. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of judicial reviews GSOC has been subject to in each year since 2012; the number settled; the number in which GSOC has been successful; and the number of judicial reviews that had a finding against GSOC. [29866/18]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the nature of the judicial reviews against GSOC which have now been completed. [29867/18]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of judicial reviews against GSOC pending or before the courts. [29868/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 142, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware, the degree to which GSOC operates independently in the discharge of their functions is clearly set out in the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.

In terms of establishing the independence of its function, Section 67 of the Garda Síochána Act grants the Commission all powers that are necessary for, or incidental to, the performance of its functions; grants that the Commission shall be independent in the performance of its functions and grants that the chairperson of the Ombudsman Commission shall manage and control generally the officers, administration and business of the Commission. This includes the management of legal actions where GSOC are the named party and are required to mount a defence in the courts.

On this basis, the information sought by the Deputy is currently not to hand. A request has been made to the Ombudsman Commission and when the information is received I will write to the Deputy directly.