Niall Collins
Question:
189. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice the total expenses paid to retired members of An Garda Síochána; the number who received payment having appeared at the Disclosures Tribunal; the reason some claims for expenses were not paid; the number of persons that were not paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8547/22]
View answer
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy and will forward it as soon as the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 189 of 16 February 2022 where you sought:
‘the total expenses paid to retired members of An Garda Síochána; the number who received payment having appeared at the Disclosures Tribunal; the reason some claims for expenses were not paid; the number of persons that were not paid”.
As you will recall, I had sought the information you requested from An Garda Síochána and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
The Tribunal initially processed the expenses of retired Garda witnesses. I am informed by the Tribunal that two retired members of AGS received expenses directly from the Tribunal. The total amount paid to these retired members was €297.74.
Following this, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Protected Disclosures Tribunal Office received claims for expenses from three witnesses (retired members of An Garda Síochána) who attended the Disclosures Tribunal. The claims included travel, subsistence and attendance at Tribunal Hearings. The total amount recommended for payment was €11,514.92.
I am advised that the Tribunal has no records of any retired member of An Garda Síochána being refused expenses. I am further advised that the practice in general is to refer all claims to An Garda Síochána via the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.
