Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2008
22 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the report of the Garda Ombudsman Commission following the death of a person (details supplied); the steps he will take to ensure the report, which has been forwarded to the Garda Commissioner is acted upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46746/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra64 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps that have been taken in respect of the report of the Garda Ombudsman Commission following the death of a person (details supplied) and in particular the recommendations in the report that require action by An Garda Síochána or the Garda Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46743/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra65 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to ensure monitoring of PULSE to ensure members of An Garda Síochána adhere to their legal and disciplinary obligations in regards to its proper use; if audit-trails of the usage of PULSE and other official systems can always be accurate and verifiable, as recommended by the Garda Ombudsman Commission following the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46744/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 64 and 65 together.
The report and recommendations referred to relate to the alleged leaking of official material from Garda sources to the media relating to a deceased person. The full text of the Ombudsman Commission's report in relation to this matter is available on its website.
The report recommends to the Garda Commissioner that supervisory ranks of An Garda Síochána should regularly monitor the use of PULSE to ensure that members adhere to their legal and disciplinary obligations with regard to its proper use. The Ombudsman Commission also recommends that suitable measures be put in place by the Garda authorities to ensure audit trails of the usage of PULSE and any other official information systems can always be accurate and verifiable.
With regard to Pulse, An Garda Síochána have detailed procedures and instructions in place on the operation of the Pulse system. The Pulse system incorporates an accurate audit system which records all record creations and updates made on the system. The audit record includes the date and time when the update on the system took place and contains details of the user signed onto the system at that time. Audit-trails also record all inquires made on the core items of interest on the PULSE system including Person and Vehicle. Audit records are written at the time the associated transaction took place. These audit records can only be accessed centrally and are not available or visible to the users.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the recommendations included in the report of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission are being examined.
