Dept Of Justice And Equality To Undergo Review

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, has announced the establishment of an independent review group to conduct a review of her own department.

The Minister stated: "The Department of Justice and Equality plays an essential role within Government and on behalf of the citizens of Ireland. It has many strengths across its wide range of functions but there are also areas of its work that require further evaluation and improvement.

"That is why, as part of our comprehensive response to the Guerin report, the Government decided to establish an independent expert review of the performance, management and administration of the Department."

Minister Fitzgerald added that she had "secured the Government's agreement to the appointment of a very experienced and capable membership of the Independent Review Group."

The membership of the Group will be as follows:

• Mr Kevin Toland, CEO of the Dublin Airport Authority and former CEO of Glanbia, USA (Chairman)  

• Ms Kathleen O'Toole, incoming Chief of Police, Seattle and former Chief Inspector, Garda Inspectorate  

• Mr David Byrne, SC, former Attorney General and EU Commissioner

• Ms Geraldine Tallon, former Secretary General, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

• Mr Greg Sparks, Founding Partner, OSM Farrell Grant Sparks

• Mr Pat McLoughlin, CEO of the Irish Payment Services Organisation.    

The Minister continued: "The members have a range of experience from the fields of change management, the law, policing, public administration and governance.

"They have all worked at the highest levels in their respective fields, both at home and abroad and I am very grateful to each of them for agreeing to undertake this important work.

"Each of the Department's difficult and complex areas of responsibility is directly relevant to the citizen – which is all the more reason to learn wider lessons and ensure the right structures are in place.

"These structures will then require sustained and consistent management and governance to ensure they work as they are intended to – for the benefit and protection of citizens.

"I am confident that the Group will produce a thoughtful and rigorous report that will provide an important signpost on the path to reform and will enable the Department to build on its considerable strengths and to fully address areas that need improvement.

"The measures already in train are designed to increase accountability and improve governance - from the key amendments in relation to whistleblowers now being fast tracked in the Protected Disclosures Bill, the holding of an open competition for the post of Garda Commissioner, the conducting of a follow up report to Guerin by the Garda Inspectorate to the strengthening of GSOC's powers. 

"The establishment by this Government of an Independent Garda Authority, which is intended to be in operation by the end of the year, will bring about the most fundamental change in governance arrangements for the Garda Síochána since its foundation.

"Two separate Commissions of Investigation are to report on a range of connected matters and all of this change is being overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform."

(MH/JP)