The Deputy is referring to cases considered by the panel of the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case.
The review of each complaint consists of an examination of the papers in the complaint by a counsel from the Panel. The person referred to by the Deputy, together with her legal advisors, have been advised that documentation held by the Department, or forwarded by the Department of the Taoiseach, has been referred to the Panel. Such documentation includes correspondence from complainants, any reports that might have been sought from An Garda Síochána to assist the Department in replies, any submissions to the Minister in relation to the case, and documents relating to previous reviews of the issues. Complainants have also been advised that it is open to them to submit any further documentation relevant to their case.
On the basis of this advice, further information was received from complainants in over 200 cases. The panel of Counsel constituting the Independent Review Mechanism is an independent body which itself considers, in any given complaint. whether it has sufficient information to base its advice to me as to whether I may take further action in the matter. Following the receipt of the additional information mentioned above the panel requested further information from complainants in four further cases.
Requests for information from the Garda Síochána were made in 44 cases. Requests for information from the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission were also made in a further 44 cases. Of the total number of requests, requests issued to both bodies in only 10 cases. In the case of the requests made to the Garda Síochána all requests were made to one central contact in Garda Headquarters. All responses provided by these bodies were considered by the appropriate counsel before final recommendations in the relevant cases were made to me.
