Wallace unveils radical plan to strengthen Garda ombudsman

Independent TD Mick Wallace has launched a radical plan to strengthen the powers of the Garda ombudsman and monitor the force, claiming increased powers for gardaí in recent years had caused “policing to suffer”.

His bill also proposes to set up an independent Garda board to monitor the force and to increase the autonomy of gardaí from central government.

However, Alan Shatter, the justice minister, said he had difficulties with the proposed bill.