Vol. 513 No. 1
675 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will amend the Garda Síochána Complaints Act, 1986, in view of the Garda Complaints Board's Third Report in relation to the operation of the Act and the implications of the Carlton judgment. [1651/00]
I can confirm to the Deputy that I see merit in many of the recommendations contained in the Garda Síochána Complaints Board's Third Report, and work on considering appropriate changes to the 1986 Act is already under way.
To this end, my Department is nearing completion of a comprehensive review of the Act and its operation, which has involved consultations with and-or consideration of proposals from a wide range of interested parties, including the Complaints Board itself, Garda authorities, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Garda staff associations etc. In this regard, the Complaints Board's Third Report on the operation of the Act has proved particularly useful in the identification of possible areas of legislative amendment, and I would hope, accordingly, to be in a position to bring proposals to Government at an early date.
With regard to the High Court judicial review referred to by the Deputy, I understand that the matter has been appealed to the Supreme Court. The implications, if any, of the outcome of this Supreme Court review will be addressed in an appropriate fashion.
