Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
363. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider establishing an independent review mechanism for historic or disputed cases of sudden or unexplained death, including those of (details supplied), to ensure transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the justice process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62366/25]
View answer364. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his department has a formal process to support families who have long sought answers in unresolved cases, such as (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62367/25]
View answer366. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62387/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 363, 364 and 366 together.
Under Irish law, criminal investigations can only be carried out by An Garda Síochána, who submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP decides whether a prosecution should proceed, and what crime will be prosecuted.
Under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and control of the administration and business of An Garda Síochána which includes both detecting and investigating crime. Under section 34 of the Act, the Commissioner is independent in his functions.
A request for a review or re-examination of historic or unresolved cases can be forwarded by a victim or the family member of a victim to the Divisional Serious Incident Management Team who can undertake a peer review of any investigation.
Fiosrú - the Office of the Police Ombudsman - is the independent statutory body established to investigate complaints regarding the conduct of An Garda Síochána. Fiosrú, which succeeded GSOC, was given expanded powers under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 and has been provided with additional resources.
The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) that was in place from 2014 to 2016 considered 320 cases and made recommendations to the then Minister in relation to all of them. Given reforms of An Garda Síochána and of policing oversight and governance in the intervening years, I have no plans to establish an IRM at this time.
