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New Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald speaking last week. Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Government agrees to independent review of the Department of Justice

The Justice Minister says the department will be part of “root and branch” reform in Ireland.

Updated 22.45

THE GOVERNMENT HAS agreed to an independent review of the Department of Justice as it responds to the Guerin Report.

Responding to the report, which saw the resignation of former Justice Minister Alan Shatter, the government has agreed to a number of its recommendations.

These include:

  • The establishment of a Commission of Investigation
  • The carrying out of a comprehensive inquiry into a number of issues by the Garda Inspectorate
  • A strengthening of the legislation covering the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC)
  • An independent review of the performance, management and administration of the Department of Justice
  • The Independent Garda Authority to be established by the end of the year
  • A new Garda Commissioner to be recruited by open competition

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said that many of the “grave issues” now being debated, raised in the Guerin Report and beyond, were the subject of previous reports, particularly that of the Morris Tribunal.

“This spectrum of issues is complex and deep-rooted ranging from high-level issues such as oversight, change management and the role of whistle-blowers; to local administration and internal communication; to matters of basic policing, performance and human resources.

It requires comprehensive and sustained corrective action. And that’s what will happen.

She added that the Department of Justice could not be above the “root and branch” reform that she herself committed to last week.

“I am further committed to ensuring that the men and women of An Garda Síochána have the support they need to carry out their duties and responsibilities professionally and effectively.

“I have committed to root and branch reform of the administration of justice in this country and this includes the government department responsible for this area.”

Breaking down the Guerin report: The complaints, the cases, the mistakes>

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37 Comments
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    Mute Abbie Cranky
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:04 PM

    I’m honestly shocked that this is not a matter of practice already, and that it had to be fought for.

    Imagine the heartbreak of losing your partner in childbirth and being told you weren’t automatically entitled to a inquest?

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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:10 PM

    @Abbie Cranky: I am not shocked at all to be honest, this is the country we live in, we vote for corrupt parties and we get a corrupt system because of this its very simple.

    115
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    Mute Jimmy Coltrane
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:21 PM

    @Peter Hughes:
    Fine Gael increasing their percentage of the vote despite the many health scandals happening on their watch.
    One could easily despair of the myopia of the electorate if one was so inclined.

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:50 PM

    @Jimmy Coltrane: They’re not really though.Its all “within margin of error” stuff and when broken down doesn’t mean they’d be returned to government. If it did we’d have an election next September..

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    Mute Eddie O'Neill
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 9:02 PM

    Shocking that it isn’t already the rule, I guess it’s part of the old Ireland, at least we do make some progress in some areas.

    Well done to Claire Daly, it’s excellent legislation and well done to her for proposing it and for persisting with it for 3 years since 2015. Some people are quick to criticize her but she does excellent work and doesn’t deserve the grief some people give her. You might not always agree with her politics but you cannot argue with her work rate and she is the exception in a bunch of lazy and incompetent ministers.

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    Mute Ixtrix Net
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:21 PM

    Just waiting to see which Total Dichs oppose this.

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:51 PM

    @Ixtrix Net: Mattie McGrath step on down…

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    Mute Tom Molloy
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:57 PM

    @Ixtrix Net: The new rules requiring the prompt treatment of sepsis will prevent a case like Savita’s happening ever again.

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    Mute Ciara Ni Mhurchu
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:13 PM

    @Tom Molloy: Removing a septic foetus would have helped.

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    Mute Ixtrix Net
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:28 PM

    @Tom Molloy:

    that’s a good thing, but, some thing should be pro-active, not , retro-active

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    Mute Tom Molloy
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 9:40 PM

    @Ciara Ni Mhurchu: Savita lived for three days after the spontaneous miscarriage. No medic has said that an abortion would have made any difference to the out of control sepsis. Sepsis causes multiple organ failure, removing any one would not “cure” the sepsis nor would the removal of the fetus.

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    Mute Ailbhe
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 12:30 PM

    @Tom Molloy: Well Tom, thats just not true. A former Master of Holles St, a man at the top of his field said that early intervention, in this case abortion, would likely have prevented sepsis.

    Can we stick to the truth please?

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    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:00 PM

    8 women all died by medical negligence yet only one name will stand out for most . Shameful.

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    Mute Ciara Ni Mhurchu
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:36 PM

    @Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: No, they died because they were prevented from accessing abortion here at home.
    How many can you name?

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    Mute Brian Deane
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:25 PM

    @Ciara Ni Mhurchu: Great to hear there are no sepsis related maternal deaths in the UK where abortion has been legal for years…..oh wait…

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    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:16 PM

    @Ciara Ni Mhurchu: did you even read the article?

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    Mute McGiddle
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 12:48 AM

    I wonder where would women’s voices be heard without @ClareDalyTD?

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    Mute Shawn O'Ceallaghan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:39 PM

    What if the family don’t want the death reported. This is often the case in suicide or OD.

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    Mute jamesdennis
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:44 PM

    Clare Daly is a beacon in a sea of …. (express exasperation here)

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:47 PM

    @Shawn O’Ceallaghan: suicide and OD would always be reported. This is about death during or shortly after childbirth.

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