Alan Shatter
Question:138 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice if he will give details of the names of those recently appointed to the Garda Complaints Board and their qualifications for such an appointment.
Written Answers. - Garda Complaints Board Appointments.
The membership of the Garda Complaints Board is as follows: Mr. Seamus McKenna, S.C. (chairman); Mr. Paul Butler, S.C.; Mr. Gordon Holmes, solicitor; Mr. Ward McEllin, solicitor; Ms Elizabeth Lovatt-Dolan; Ms Mary Comer; Dr. Michael Crowley; Mr. Sean Glennon; assistant commissioner Patrick O'Toole.
The board is appointed in accordance with section 2 (2) of the First Schedule of the Garda Síochána (Complaints) Act, 1986. The Act specifies that the chairman and at least three of the ordinary members must be practising barristers or practising solicitors of not less than ten years standing. It further specifies that one ordinary member of the board must be either the commissioner or such other officer of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of assistant commissioner as the commissioner may nominate. The Act does not specify any special qualifications or requirements for the other four ordinary members other than that they are not and have not been members of the Garda Síochána.