O'Dea moves to allay fears over Garda Inspectorate

The Junior Justice Minister Willie O'Dea is insisting that the planned new Garda Inspectorate will have all the powers of the police ombudsman.

The Minister was responding to concerns expressed by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, who want a police ombudsman similar to that in the North established here.

"The Inspectorate will have the powers of the ombudsman" he said, "but it won't just have the powers of the ombudsman."

Minister O'Dea also voiced his optimism in light of the fact that the Inspectorate will be made up of three individuals.