Willie Penrose
Ceist:100 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take arising from the annual report of the Garda Complaints Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22019/01]
Written Answers. - Garda Complaints Board.
I am fully aware of the concerns expressed by the Garda Síochána Complaints Board in its annual report for 1999 on the current arrangements for dealing with complaints made by the public against members of the Garda Síochána.
In that context, I previously indicated to the House that I accept the need for legislative changes in the field of Garda complaints. This is the major concern raised by the complaints board in its report. As the Members of the House will be aware, I have been undertaking a comprehensive review of the existing complaints machinery. That review has, in particular, taken account of a number of important judgments of the European Court of Human Rights which have significant implications for the relevant investigative and other procedures in this country, as well as in all the other member states of the Council of Europe. The judgments in question have raised a wide range of complex legal and other issues which have required detailed consideration.
At this stage I am happy to be in a position to confirm that I have completed my review of the system for handling Garda complaints. On the basis of the review, I have developed proposals for appropriate legislative changes which I will publish in the near future.