We read in today's newspapers that the Tánaiste, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, yesterday secured Cabinet approval to establish an independent root and branch review of An Garda Síochána. The Taoiseach is aware that the Labour Party published draft terms of reference for such a review last weekend. We have seen no similar draft terms of reference from the Government. I will meet with the Tánaiste later today and I understand other bilateral meetings with the other leaders will also happen. We will support this process if we are satisfied it is fully independent and will lead to the necessary reforms that there is a consensus on in the House and among the public. At this stage, it is important the review gets under way. What I have not seen in the papers is any urgency to implement the existing proposals for reform.

We have spoken in this Chamber many times about the many existing recommendations the Garda Inspectorate has published. We debated them during my time in Government and more recently in this House. There is no recent implementation update on those groundbreaking, important, specific recommendations. It is clear to me the commitment to reform at management level within An Garda Síochána is limited. In addition to our proposals on an independent review of An Garda Síochána, we proposed that the powers of the Policing Authority be expanded. These powers must include giving the Policing Authority the capacity to direct An Garda Síochána to implement the proposals made by the Garda Inspectorate. I am glad to see this proposal has gathered support from other parties in the House. Does the Taoiseach agree this change to the powers of the Policing Authority is needed? Will he task the Tánaiste with drafting the necessary legislative changes to allow this as a matter of urgency and in the meantime will he arrange for an urgent implementation update to be published on each of the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate setting out what has been implemented to date, which ones are in the process of being implemented, including a clear timeline for each, and what are simply being ignored?

I thank Deputy Howlin for his question and for his party's submission in this regard. One of the reasons the Government did not sign off finally yesterday in respect of a root and branch reform of the structure and future policing operations of An Garda Síochána is that, as I informed the House yesterday, I received the final report of the Fennelly commission last Friday at 6 p.m.

I am duty-bound by law to refer that report to the Attorney General, and I intend to publish that report as soon as the Attorney General informs me that it is in order to do so. The reason that it has to go to the Attorney General is as to whether a question arises that there might be implications in respect of any pending case, legal or whatever. I hope that can apply this week, and it would be wrong of me or the Tánaiste to come into the House and say that we are now signing off on all of the issues in respect of future structures for the Garda Síochána, policing arrangements and so on without taking into account the potential impact of the recommendations that are contained in the final report of the Fennelly commission.

The Tánaiste has undertaken to talk to the Opposition Members and spokespersons on justice so that the Oireachtas can have a complete view on this, and that is why I say that, when I receive authorisation to publish Fennelly in its final entity, everybody should have an opportunity to read that and see whether people have views as to how that impacts on the-----

When will that be?

I expect that will be this week.

The Tánaiste looked at the question of management and structures, composition, recruitment and training of personnel, culture and ethos of policing, and the structures and legislative basis for oversight and accountability. I confirm to the Deputy that she has not seen the Fennelly report and she has not been briefed on the Fennelly report. She does not know what is in the Fennelly report, nor can she until I receive notification from the Attorney General that it is in order to publish it.

The Deputy mentioned reforms that were under way.

The inspectorate.

The Commissioner's modernisation and renewal programme 2016 to 2021 is designed to address the hundreds of recommendations in various reports into An Garda Síochána, including the most recent report from the Garda Inspectorate, "Changing Policing in Ireland". That is a five-year programme with 73 recommendations in it. The current district model of policing will be replaced on a phased basis with a divisional one, where responsibilities are allocated on a functional rather than a geographical basis subject to modifications to meet the needs of large rural divisions and ensure that the close relationship with communities is maintained, which is so important. In line with international experience, a mid-term goal of 20% of civilians for the overall Garda workforce is to be achieved through a civilian-by-default policy to be adopted in relation to the filling of all new posts, other than operational policing posts, and non-operational policing posts that become vacant, a redeployment of gardaí and backfilling by suitably qualified civilians where necessary. Mr. Olson, who is in charge of the inspectorate, has been very clear on these things. Ongoing work to increase the Garda workforce to 21,000 personnel by 2021, comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians, is all under way.

I take the Deputy's point about publishing the progress that there has been, and that is very important. I will see that the Tánaiste responds to that comprehensively.

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply and I accept, as regards the terms of reference for the review, that we need to read exactly what the Fennelly report has recommended. We will engage on that basis. However, what I heard from the Taoiseach regarding what was happening right now was that there was an implementation of the Commissioner's agenda for reform. I am asking about the inspectorate's reports. They are ground breaking, far reaching and truly reforming. Will those specific recommendations be implemented?

Yes.

Can we have a published timeline on that? In the meanwhile, is it the Government's view that we can have continued confidence in the current management of An Garda Síochána in light of what we now know and the views of the majority in the House and of the people?

The answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". The position is that the Garda Inspectorate produced a very clear report.

Several.

That has been published. There is a monitoring and implementation of that. It is an extended programme of, I think, 73 recommendations. Obviously, the Tánaiste will publish the up-to-date monitoring and implementation of that, which is quite an independent matter. That will be available publicly, and rightly so, so that people can have continued trust-----

When will that be?

The report is published, as the Deputy knows. I do not where the up-to-date publication of what is actually under way to be implemented is, but we will have that very shortly for everybody.

As I said before in respect of confidence in the Commissioner, I retain confidence in her to see that the changes recommended independently are being rolled out and timelined, as happens in the case of plans in other areas, including education, jobs and so on.

I also take the Deputy's point in regard to the independent Policing Authority. A number of vacancies have been advertised by the Policing Authority. Following the Government's decision, the nature of appointments at senior level in An Garda Síochána into the future will be independent of the Garda Commissioner and Government of the day. I believe this was the right thing to do. That process is under way and being followed. When the Tánaiste meets the Opposition spokespersons she will give them a full briefing on all of these matters.