Deputy Cullinane can beg our indulgence on this occasion.

I wish to raise the Government's commitment in the programme for Government to higher levels of transparency and accountability in An Garda Síochána. Two issues arose in recent days that are of concern in that regard. The first is the view of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, that full accountability and transparency and its ability to do its job and hold the Garda to account is "impossible" because of the actions of An Garda Síochána.

Yesterday, the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, announced an anti-corruption unit within An Garda Síochána that will essentially involve the Garda investigating the Garda. He acknowledged at the Committee of Public Accounts today that he did not even consult with GSOC on the establishment of the unit. That goes back to the bad days of gardaí investigating gardaí and not having the highest levels of transparency. Surely the Tánaiste is concerned that GSOC has put on the public record its concern about its ability to do its job independently to hold An Garda Síochána to account. In responding to those two questions could the Tánaiste say why it is the case that the Garda Commissioner would set up such an anti-criminal unit in An Garda Síochána and not consult with GSOC on it?

The Deputy asked a number of questions. I have long responses I could read to him but it is probably more appropriate to put those questions to the Minister for Justice and Equality so that he can answer them comprehensively. The chair of GSOC did raise issues in the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality in recent days that require a comprehensive response, and the responses are there.