Garda watchdog says it wants power to investigate Commissioner and others

The garda watchdog said it wanted expanded powers, claiming it should be able to review minor disputes all the way up to investigating the Garda commissioner.

The comments were made before the Oireachtas Justice Committee, which yesterday heard from the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and other organisations regarding the effectiveness of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and oversight of the force.

The government has signalled it wants to beef up oversight of the gardaí after a spate of controversies and following the unprecedented departures of Justice Minister Alan Shatter, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and the Garda Confidential Recipient, Oliver Connolly.