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THE JUSTICE MINISTER has been handed a 12-point report on how garda oversight could be strengthened.
The Oireachtas Justice Committee — made up of TDs and senators from Government and opposition parties — published their interim report today.
Amongst the panel’s main recommendations:
Make the Garda Commissioner accountable to GSOC
According to the committee:
This would expand the remit of GSOC to more effectively investigate complaints against members of the Garda Síochána by members of the public, by having the powers to question senior members of the Force…
Bring in a one person Ombudsman model (in place of the current three-person system).
“There are a variety of ways this may be structured, for example, one Ombudsman assisted by two assistants,” the committee says.
Why?
The appointment of a single Ombudsman would ensure a greater degree of accountability and ensure that there is no possibility of dissenting opinions or divergence in the Ombudsman’s findings.
Ban gardaí and former gardaí from serving on GSOC.
According to the committee:
This is of fundamental importance to ensuring an oversight body that is fully independent and free from political or Garda interference. Furthermore, this would reinforce a practice whereby an Garda Síochána is accountable to the citizens it serves to protect.
Dealing with whistleblower complaints…
The Committee says GSOC should introduce new structures to allow whistleblowers to raise issues of concern, safe in the knowledge that their complaints will be treated with sensitivity and confidence.
It’s also recommended that a ‘helpline’ be set up to offer advice, and a separate ‘hotline’ to allow complainants to report an incident.
The new Garda Authority…
The proposed new Garda Authority should be run as a “shadow organisation” before it’s officially established.
“This is to ensure that the right administrative structure is in place before the Authority assumes any real investigative and administrative powers,” the committee recommends.
It also says there should be a “gradual process of transferring powers” to the new body.
Furthermore:
Longer-term goals…
As part of its longer term objectives, the authority should work towards establishing a Northern Ireland-style Criminal Justice Inspectorate, the committee says:
Such bodies under its remit may include an Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Legal Aid Board, the Probation Service and the Ombudsman Commission. Other organisations such as the State Pathologist and Prison Governors may also fall within the remit of an expanded authority.
The full report, sent to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald last week, can be viewed here.
The document published today is an interim response only. A full review of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 is ongoing — and is expected to be published in the autumn.
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FOR PEAT SAKE!
Roll on the eco warriors complaining about the erosion of our natural resources etc.
Is that not what eco warriors do though?
I say burn the lot. Then when there’s nothing left, out kids can weep into the ashes!
Loadsamoney!
I suppose looking ahead and seeing that massive swathes of habitat will disappear and not seeing that as a good thing is the alternative?
Fairly crap returns for a company with 77,000 hectares
I thought it was good for a company that has a very small time frame every year to harvest.
It has been to asked, what does a dry summer yield then?
Er, lots of smiles? :)
Er that don’t answer it for me. :-)
Pity that they burn all that peat in the power stations. Something not right about that
Did the forget about the peat, when they were chasing the Gov to become board na Water
I’d say the board had a good aul moan. ;-/
Well at least they’re scooping out the middle of Ireland and flogging it to the UK for their gardens and all that will be left is a great big brown swimming pool for further Irish heatwaves and bog snorkeling. They should have to subsidise compulsory swimming lessons on the national curriculum in exchange for the turf.
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