Committee plans ‘tight review’ of oversight laws

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Ombudsman chairman Simon O’Brien could appear before an Oireachtas committee review of oversight laws.

The chairman of the Oireachtas Justice Committee, FG TD David Stanton, said it was going to be a “very tight” review and hoped to produce a report for Justice Minister Alan Shatter by early May.

Meanwhile, the vice chair of the committee, Labour TD Anne Ferris, said staffing cuts at the Ombudsman, revealed in the Irish Examiner yesterday, should form part of the review.

She said the 20% cut in staff levels was “threatening to compromise” GSOC’s ability to conduct its investigations.

The committee has been tasked by the Oireachtas to “examine all relevant parts” of the laws governing Garda supervision, to improve the statutory mechanisms and ensure “effective oversight”.

Mr Stanton said that following a meeting of the committee tomorrow he intends to put a notice up on the Oireachtas website seeking written submissions on their review of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

The Cork East TD said it will be a “very tight” process with the deadline for submissions to be most likely the end of March. They would examine all the submissions and hold oral hearings by the end of April.

He said he hoped to produce their report for the minister by early May. Mr Shatter has already indicated that he wanted to publish his proposals regarding the reform of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission before the summer break.

Mr Stanton said the committee was “ready to go” and had already done some preparatory work.

He said he was “taken with” the model in New Zealand, where a High Court judge led the oversight body. He said such a system, which is provided for as an option in Irish law, would give GSOC a form of “judicial independence”.

Mr Stanton said they would examine the written submissions and determine which group or individual to invite in for an oral hearing. He said these could include the Garda Commissioner, the Garda Ombudsman, academics and other experts. He wanted to keep the review “as broad as possible”.

Regarding staffing levels at GSOC, he said his main concern would be that it had sufficient “technical” expertise.

Ms Ferris said that for GSOC to execute its role it must have sufficient staff and resources.

The Wicklow TD said this issue should be addressed during the review.

“Given that we will be discussing expanding GSOC’s functions, it is logical to include funding and staffing if the commission is to receive additional powers,” she said.