Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Questions (350)

Clare Daly

Question:

350. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details of any meetings she had with the former chairman of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (details supplied) in the six months prior to the former chairman's departure, indicating whether these took place before or after the former chairman announced that he was resigning as chairman; if she received any correspondence from the former chairman on the matter of his resignation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8245/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

With regard to meeting with the Ombudsman Commission, which is a statutory independent body, I can inform the Deputy that, as Minister for Justice and Equality, I meet with the Commission from time to time during which a wide range of issues may be discussed that relate to our respective roles. The last such meeting which was attended by Mr O'Brien was in October 2014.

I previously informed the Deputy, in my response to her Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 15 January 2015, that Mr O'Brien, in his letter of 7 January advising of his intention to resign as Chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, made clear that this was as a result of his being successful in securing the position of Chief Executive of the Pensions Ombudsman Service in the UK and he has since taken up that position.