GARDA SIOCHANA OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION POWERS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE GARDA COMMISSIONER - KENNY

Posted on February 26, 2014 4:57 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Speaking on the Statements on Allegations by Members of An Garda Siochana

I am glad of the opportunity to speak in the House on what is now an issue of substantial national importance and which has been in the public domain continuously for several weeks.

I was pleased to see the government's announcement yesterday that a Senior Counsel will be making an assessment of all the issues which have recently been the subject of so much controversy. This, I believe, is the right thing to do, and I am certain that, if that assessment recommends a Commission of Inquiry, there will be one.

All of these issues need to be resolved in a way that ensures that public confidence in An Garda Siochána is upheld, and also that members of An Garda Siochána are able to do their jobs and to be able to report wrongdoing if they feel that there has been wrongdoing.

I have referred to it in the House before, and I do so again now - the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal really does make for relevant and powerful reading when it comes to matters such as we are now discussing. I quote one of the passages in the Mahon Report that I think is very relevant:
"Corruption is frequently an offence committed by wealthy and/or powerful members of the Community and those reporting it may well fear the consequences of doing so for their own careers and employment prospects. Whistleblower protection may help alleviate those fears, thus facilitating the reporting of corruption offences." (para.7.45).

In that context, I want to take this opportunity to again state my support for the Protected Disclosures legislation, which I have already spoken on in the House recently. That legislation will help to ensure that serving Gardaí will be able to make complaints directly to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission, which I believe, is a positive step that will see a more direct and responsive approach if an issue of wrongdoing should arise.

As a member of the Oireachtas Justice Committee, I look forward to the work of the Committee in reviewing the 2005 Garda Siochana Act, and I also believe that the review should consider recommending that the powers of the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission should be extended to include the post of the Garda Commissioner.