asked the Minister for Justice if he has examined any proposals to constitute an independent Garda authority; and, if not, if he will now institute such examinations as a matter of urgency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Authority.
27.
I regard it as appropriate that the question of the setting up of a police authority should be the subject of consultations with the Garda authorities and the Garda Representative Bodies. I have already initiated consultations with these interests and I will be having further discussions with them. The progress of the discussions to date has been satisfactory.
The Minister says he has initiated consultations with these interests. Is he himself in favour of an independent Garda authority? I do not want to prejudice the consultations with the representative bodies but would he be generally favourable to the idea?
Yes, provided the body would be set up in accordance with what is an independent body and provided certain safeguards can be built into it.
What type of safeguards?
I am not prepared to go into that amount of detail at this stage.
But the Minister would, at a later stage?
If and when a final decision is taken on the matter it will come before the House and the Deputy will have an opportunity of discussing it in detail.