GSOC reporting to the Minister
Deputy Micheál Martin begins challenging the Taoiseach’s interpretation of whether GSOC was required to report an exceptional matter to the Minister, but is ruled out of order.
Section 80(5) of the Garda Síochána Act states: "The Ombudsman Commission may make any other reports that it considers appropriate for drawing to the Minister's attention matters that have come to its notice and that, in its opinion, should, because of their gravity or other exceptional circumstances, be the subject of a special report to the Minister." The Taoiseach is on the record as saying that section 80(5) of the Garda Síochána Act "requires" that GSOC would report unusual matters or matters of exceptional importance to the Minister for Justice and Equality and that this was the fundamental issue which GSOC needed to explain to the Minister. People would like the record to be clear. Does the Taoiseach accept that the Act does not place any such obligation on GSOC and that he was wrong in saying that the Garda Síochána Act "requires" GSOC to report to the Minister? Will the Taoiseach correct the record?
