Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
914. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice if she will update Dáil Éireann on matters in relation to the GSOC report on the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42492/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that both GSOC and the Garda Commissioner are independent in the exercise of their duties and I, as Minister, have no role in this regard.
However, in order to assist the Deputy I have made enquires with GSOC seeking an update on the issues raised in the finalised report and subsequent correspondence sent to An Garda Síochána.
As the Deputy will be aware from the correspondence referred to, the issues raised in the report related to the safe keeping of exhibits and related evidence by An Garda Síochána. I am informed by GSOC that they received a detailed response from the Garda Commissioner's office in July 2018 which expressed regret in relation to these circumstances, and set out the significant changes which have taken place within An Garda Síochána since the original investigation, and which mitigate against such material being misplaced or lost, into the future.
In particular, I am advised that An Garda Síochána have progressed the implementation of a new Property and Exhibit Management System (PEMS) and an electronic Investigation Management System (IMS), which greatly enhance the capacity of An Garda Síochána to manage and store exhibits. The establishment of the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT), under the auspices of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, as well as the creation of the role of Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) also contribute to the better management of investigations and the exhibits associated with them.
