Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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266. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the minority report (details supplied) of the Commission on the Future of Policing; and the key issues raised in the report. [53907/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I was pleased to announce yesterday that the Government has endorsed the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and agreed to my proposals to accept all 157 key recommendations (136 in full and 21 in principle). This follows three months of detailed consideration by my Department of the report's findings and recommendations and consultations with the Garda Commissioner, the policing oversight bodies , other Government Departments and agencies.

The Commission's vision as endorsed by Government is for a modern, highly professional, human rights-based police service, working closely and collaboratively with communities and other agencies to keep communities safe and prevent harm. I and my Government colleagues are convinced that this is the right vision to maintain and enhance public trust in policing, to address current challenges and to enable An Garda Síochána to meet future challenges.

I was also pleased to launch, with the Garda Commissioner, a high level implementation plan "A Policing Service for the Future" which sets out the approach to implementation. It will be overseen by the Implementation Group on Policing Reform (IGPR) which has Ms Helen Ryan, former member of the Commission, as its independent Chair. The IGPR is supported by a dedicated Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach.

The Plan, which was prepared with the input of the IGPR sets out an ambitious but realistic four year work programme for the implementation of the recommendations. This timescale is in line with the Commission's own recommendations. I would refer the Deputy to www.gov.ie/policingreform for a copy of the Plan.

My Department along with the Commissioner will be centrally involved in the implementation work.

The Plan includes the preparation by my Department of a Policing and Community Safety Bill to provide, amongst other matters, for a new coherent governance, oversight and accountability framework for policing as recommended by the Commission.

I am conscious of some concern that the proposals risk diluting the current level of external scrutiny. Following detailed consideration of the concerns, including the dissenting views of the two members of the Commission to whom the Deputy refers, I am satisfied that the proposals are a coherent response to what is currently a complex system of external oversight that acts to the detriment of accountability on the part of individuals and the Garda organisation itself. Taken as a whole, the suite of proposals will ensure the achievement of the complementary objectives of effective external oversight of policing and strong internal governance in line with best practice.

I am also satisfied that it is appropriate that the Commissioner and the Garda Síochána Board be given responsibility for senior appointments, subject to normal public service recruitment and promotion standards being applied. I accept the Commission’s strong view that the Commissioner must be empowered to act as the CEO of An Garda Síochána and responsibility for appointments is clearly within the remit of the Board and CEO of any large organisation. The integrity of the processes will, of course, be subject to oversight by the proposed new independent external oversight body.

I anticipate that the new framework will be in place on 1 January 2021. In the intervening period the existing oversight bodies will continue their important work in accordance with their statutory remit.