· Minister Fitzgerald publishes legislation to strengthen the powers and
remit of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
· Minister says this Bill will “ensure that the wider public will have
confidence in GSOC and how it carries out its important tasks”
Frances Fitzgerald T.D., Minister for Justice and Equality, has today
announced the publication of the Garda Síochána (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill
2014.
Commenting on the Bill’s publication the Minister said: “This Bill is a
significant piece of legislation and it is an important element in the
comprehensive programme of justice reform that is being undertaken by the
Government. In particular, and in line with commitments given by the
Government, the Bill delivers key elements to strengthen the powers and
remit of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).”
The Bill will amend and update the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and other
relevant legislation with the main objectives of:
· bringing the Garda Commissioner within the remit of GSOC for the
first time;
· extending GSOC’s powers of investigation in relation to complaints
involving suspected criminal behaviour;
· ensuring that the Garda Síochána provides information sought by GSOC
for an investigation as soon as practicable; and
· providing greater autonomy for GSOC in examining the Garda Síochána’s
practices, policies and procedures.
The Minister went on to state: “GSOC has a pivotal role to play when it
comes to addressing complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána.
I believe that this Bill will contribute in a meaningful way to the
operation of GSOC so as to ensure that the wider public will have
confidence in it and how it carries out its important tasks.”
The Minister continued: “The measures provided for in the Bill take account
of the results of a public consultation process initiated by the Cabinet
Committee on Justice Reform and also relevant work within the Oireachtas
Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. Further changes in
relation to GSOC will be considered in the context of the legislation to
establish a new Policing Authority which I will introduce as quickly as
possible.”
With regard to the enactment of the new Bill, the Minister added: “It is my
intention that the Bill will become law as quickly as possible and I look
forward to having it debated by the Houses of the Oireachtas at an early
stage.”
ENDS..../
Notes for editors
The main purpose of the Garda Síochána (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2014 is to
amend the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to expand the remit and powers of the
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), which is the independent body
responsible for receiving and dealing with complaints made by members of
the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána.
Amendments are also being made to further legislation in respect of the
exercise of certain police powers by GSOC.
The Bill is available at www.oireachtas.ie
Key provisions in the Bill
In particular, the Bill:
· Brings the Garda Commissioner within the scope of GSOC investigations
for the first time.
· Allows GSOC, for the first time, to carry out such an examination of
certain Garda practices and procedures on its own initiative. Currently
it can only do this when requested by the Minister.
· Requires the Garda Commissioner to ensure that any information to be
provided by the Garda Síochána to GSOC for the purposes of an
investigation will be supplied as soon as practicable. This provision
will strengthen the ability of GSOC to carry out investigations.
· Extends the general time limit for making a complaint to GSOC from six
to twelve months. This does not alter the current position under which
it is open to GSOC to extend the time limit if it considers that there
are good reasons for doing so.
· Broadens the scope for the Minister to refer a matter to GSOC for
investigation, in the public interest. This will now be possible in
relation to any matter that gives rise to a concern that a Garda member
may have committed an offence or behaved in a manner that would justify
disciplinary proceedings.
· Allows GSOC to carry out certain investigations where:
Ø the identity of the member of the Garda Síochána concerned may not be
known when the investigation is undertaken, or
Ø the offence or behaviour concerned may also involve or have involved
a person who is not a member of the Garda Síochána.
These are issues which have been identified as ones which could usefully
be clarified.
· Enables the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to conduct, on its own
initiative or at the request of the Minister, inspections or inquiries
in relation to any particular aspects of the operation and
administration of the Garda Síochána. At present the Inspectorate can
only conduct such an inspection or inquiry with the prior consent of the
Minister.
· Amends the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications
Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 to enable GSOC to undertake interception
of communications for the purposes of a criminal investigation. A GSOC
investigating officer will have the powers that would be available to
the Garda Síochána in the same circumstances.
· Amends the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 to enable GSOC to
carry out surveillance where it is necessary in connection with a
criminal investigation concerning an arrestable offence. In this
context, GSOC will be in the same position as the Garda Síochána for the
purposes of conducting a criminal investigation.
Independent Policing Authority
The Government has undertaken to put in place a comprehensive programme of
justice reform, a key element of which is the establishment of a new
independent policing authority.
The views of the public on the proposed establishment of an independent
policing authority were sought by way of a public consultation process that
commenced on 9 May 2014 and ended on 31 May 2014. Submissions received on
foot of this process are currently being considered in the Department.
In addition, a seminar on justice reform took place on 20 June 2014 at
Farmleigh. The purpose of the seminar was to provide a platform for key
stakeholders and persons with an interest in Garda reform to discuss
elements of the justice reform programme initiated by the Government.
Recruitment of Garda Commissioner
The open recruitment process for the post of Garda Commissioner has
commenced under the management of the Public Appointments Service, which
the Government has asked to independently manage the competition.
It is expected the appointment of a new Garda Commissioner will be made by
the end of the year.