Tánaiste aims to improve efficiency of Garda watchdog

Legislation is to be introduced to enable the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) to operate more efficiently, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has said.

She said it had been operation for 10 years and it was time to examine fundamentally the legislative provisions relating to the manner in which complaints were made to and dealt with by Gsoc.

“I am committed to ensuring we have in place the most effective possible mechanism for the investigation of complaints,’’ she added.

Ms Fitzgerald told the Dáil on Thursday she expected the changes to mirror very closely the recommendations contained in a report on Garda oversight and accountability compiled by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality.