Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 September 2014
139. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the most recent penalty points incident brought to her attention by a whistleblower; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35023/14]
View answerThe matter referred to by the Deputy was brought to the attention of the Acting Garda Commissioner by way of a disclosure under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 alleging ongoing Garda misconduct in the cancellation of Fixed Charge Notices. The Acting Commissioner is treating the allegations with the utmost seriousness and in this regard referred the matter to me with a request that I consider referring the allegations to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) for independent investigation. The Commissioner, in addition to referring the matter to me, ordered an internal examination to be conducted by both the Garda Professional Standards Unit (GPSU) and the Garda Internal Audit Unit, particularly having regard to adherence to the detailed new Fixed Charge Procedures which came into effect on 16 June this year.
I fully share the Commissioner’s serious concern. Clearly, any infringement of policies and procedures by any member of An Garda Síochána would be a very serious matter. Conscious of the need for continued public confidence in the integrity of the fixed charge notice system, and of the desirability of an independent investigation of the allegations in the public interest, I referred the allegations to GSOC, under section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, for independent investigation. The outcome of that investigation will be made public. In line with correct procedures the name of the person who made these confidential disclosures was not provided to me, and the Garda Commissioner will liaise directly with GSOC on the matter.
What is important now is that the actual facts of the situation are established before any conclusions are reached. The actions being taken by the Acting Garda Commissioner and the separate independent inquiry by GSOC should achieve exactly that.
