Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
497. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of unresolved cases that have been referred for peer review since 2022 to date in 2025; the number completed; the number reopened; and the number in which new investigative actions were taken. [71275/25]
View answerUnder 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.
I have been advised by the Garda authorities that each of these matters are dealt with on a case by case basis, and no central repository exists cataloguing timelines for peer reviews.
I am advised that for operational reasons, An Garda Síochána are not in a position to provide figures for this request. The Garda authorities have informed me that a disproportionate amount of time and resources would be required to collate the data requested, relative to the information sought.
It should also be noted that in a large number of cases peer reviews would remain open/ongoing and would therefore not be reflected in the return.
The Deputy may wish to note that it is the role of the Garda Serious Crime Review Team, often referred to as the Cold Case Unit, to review long standing investigations, at the direction of the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in these decisions.
