Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 February 2018
71. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to discuss the report into the Jobstown protest given to him by An Garda Síochána on 26 July 2017 with the acting Garda Commissioner; if he will recommend changes in Garda procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5683/18]
View answer104. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has examined the report into the Jobstown protest given to his Department on 26 July 2017 by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5682/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 104 together.
I can inform the Deputy that I have examined the report referred to in his questions.
As the Deputy is aware, the criminal investigations and court proceedings relating to water-charge protests in Jobstown were dealt with by the appropriate State authorities. Following a Garda investigation and consideration by the DPP, the matters in question were brought to trial, and a duly constituted jury gave its verdict. That is absolutely in keeping with our system of justice and the separation of powers, which is designed to ensure justice and equity before the law. These matters have been fully aired and brought to a conclusion before the Courts.
Operational policing matters are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team. The former Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan commenced a review into the policing response and subsequent investigation of what had happened at Jobstown in November 2014. We need to let that review take its course.
More generally, if people have concerns about the way that Gardaí behaved in relation to this or any other matter, they do not need to await the outcome of the internal review. There are well-established procedures for pursuing such matters, and the Deputy will be aware of the role of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) in this regard. This avenue of complaint equally applies if people are concerned with the behaviour of individual members of An Garda Síochána when they interacted with the Courts process.
