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Oversight and Regulatory Bodies

An Garda Síochána is committed to working constructively with our oversight and regulatory bodies who have an important role in not only ensuring the public trust in policing, but in helping to improve the service we deliver to the public.

Department of Justice and Equality

The Department of Justice and Equality develops policy towards and oversees the provision of resources to An Garda Síochána.

Garda management regularly reports to the Department of Justice and Equality on matters relating to the application and use of Garda resources, the achievement of its objectives, and matters relating to performance and governance.

For further information, please visit www.justice.ie.

Houses of the Oireachtas

An Garda Síochána’s regularly provides updates on its performance across a wide range of policing functions to the Oireachtas through relevant Committees such as the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality, as well as through Parlimentary Questions (PQs).

An Garda Síochána also appears before the Public Accounts Committee to address reports by the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General on the spending of the Garda budget.

An Garda Síochána’s Annual Report is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas each year.  

Policing Authority

The Policing Authority is an independent body overseeing the performance of An Garda Síochána. It promotes public trust and confidence in policing and helps shape policing services to meet the challenges of modern Ireland.

An Garda Síochána and the Policing Authority work together to set yearly objectives for the organisation through the annual Policing Plan. Progress by An Garda Síochána during the year against these objectives is regularly reported to, and assessed by, the Policing Authority.

An Garda Síochána also reports to the Policing Authority on a regular basis through public and private meetings, the Commissioner’s Monthly Report to the Authority, and meetings of the Policing Authority’s sub-committees.

The Commissioner’s Monthly Reports to the Policing Authority can be accessed here.

For more information on the functions of the Policing Authority, please visit www.policingauthority.ie

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC)

An independent, effective oversight body is critical to ensuring public confidence in policing. Garda management has continually stated that GSOC has an invaluable statutory role to play in helping us to improve our service to the public.

GSOC deals with matters involving possible misconduct by members of An Garda Síochána.

A dedicated office within An Garda Síochána provides GSOC staff with a direct point of contact and ensures An Garda Síochána compliance with the Commission. An Garda Síochána currently has a high level of compliance with requests for information/documentation from GSOC in relation to its investigations.

Anyone who wishes to make a complaint in relation to a member of An Garda Síochána can contact GSOC at www.gardaombudsman.ie

Garda Inspectorate

An Garda Síochána views the Garda Inspectorate as a partner in the pursuit of policing excellence. The Inspectorate has published a number of valuable reports that have helped us improve. In many of its reports it has made recommendations for additional investment in systems and technology the organisation had requested. The Garda Modernisation and Renewal Programme has been designed to address the issues raised in the Garda Inspectorate Reports.

We will continue to work constructively and collaboratively with the Garda Inspectorate to deliver a better service to the community.

For further information, please visit www.gsinp.ie