Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 October 2013

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Questions (172)

Clare Daly

Question:

172. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 10 October 2013 the reason he stated he had no function in determining the content of protocols and if this is the view of both the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Síochána, considering that the protocols provide a basis for timely and complete co-operation and considering that he knows the commission has requested independent access to PULSE on numerous occasions and that he has the power to bring forward amending legislation to compel such an arrangement. [44082/13]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Section 108 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Commissioner shall, by written protocols, make arrangements concerning matters including the sharing of information between both organisations. I have no function in the making of such arrangements or in determining the protocols surrounding those arrangements.

As I stated in my reply to the Deputy of the 10th of October 2013, revised protocols were agreed and signed off by the Chairperson of the Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Commissioner last month. These revised protocols provide the Ombudsman Commission with access to PULSE through the two Garda Superintendents working on secondment with the Ombudsman Commission.

I also informed the Deputy in my earlier reply that I have established a committee chaired by a senior official of my Department, with senior representatives from the Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Síochána, to act as a forum where any future emerging issues concerning the protocols can be identified and appropriately addressed.