Laws published for independent Garda authority

Laws to create a new independent Garda authority have been published this afternoon.

The laws will create a new level of management between politicians and the Gardaí.

It comes in light of the allegations made by Maurice McCabe and the way they were handled by senior gardaí and the Government.

There was heavy criticism of the close relationship between the former minister Alan Shatter and the former commissioner Martin Callinan.

The Government hopes the new authority will make sure that Gardaí cannot rely on political ties to avoid scrutiny of any of their possible failings.