Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 July 2014

Thursday, 10 July 2014

Questions (145)

Clare Daly

Question:

145. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she intends to instruct GSOC to carry out an inquiry into the leaking of information to the media in relation to the removal of two Roma children from their families, the consequences of which were enormously damaging for the families concerned and which, although outside the scope of the special section 42 inquiry, based on the evidence examined by the inquiry was believed to have come from Garda sources. [30545/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I should clarify that the Terms of Reference for Ms. Logan's Inquiry included a provision that she should, in the context of her Inquiry, have regard to "The systems and policies for ensuring the maintenance of appropriate confidentiality in relation to the utilisation of section 12 (amended by section 7 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 (No. 19 of 2011)) of the Child Care Act 1991 (No. 17 of 1991)".

Ms. Logan's Report does raise concerns in relation to the fact that certain information entered the public domain. Now that the Report has been published the Garda Commissioner has informed me that she will be appointing a senior officer to examine this matter; and, in the first instance, I will await the result of this examination before considering any further action in this regard.