Minister Fitzgerald acts on longstanding problems – O’Donovan

Fine Gael Limerick TD, Patrick O’Donovan, has commended the Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald TD, on the publication in full of the Independent Review Group on the Department of Justice.

“This is the most progressive report to be issued from the Department of Justice in decades and I commend the Minister for taking decisive action in establishing a high level group to review the Department.

“Any suggestion that the problems highlighted within the Department of Justice are new is simply ridiculous. This report has outlined some serious issues but these have been embedded within the Department for years and Minister Fitzgerald has been the first Government Minister to address the problem head on.

“It is a pity that previous Governments have not only failed to address or acknowledge problems in the Department of Justice, but they have solidified and reinforced these flawed practices over the years.

“Minister Fitzgerald has opened up the Department of Justice, she has published this report in its entirety and she has committed to implementing a comprehensive ‘Programme of Change’ as recommended.

“There is no doubt that there is work to be done within the Department. The Independent Review Group headed by Kevin Toland found a “ closed secretive and silo driven culture” as well as problems with management processes. On the other hand the review group also found the staff of the Department of Justice to be highly skilled, very willing, and in possession of a “can-do attitude”.

“The Department of Justice is central to the operation of the State in its creation of legislation. The report published by Minister Fitzgerald is just one aspect of a comprehensive reform programme currently underway. It is essential there is transparency in the operation of the Department of Justice and that confidence is restored in An Garda Síochana and in the relationship between the two bodies.

“It is time for the Department of Justice to modernise and to move into the 21^st Century. The findings of the report are challenging but they are constructive; I am confident that effective leadership and management practices can be put in place and that by implementing the recommendations of the review, the Department of Justice can adapt and change.”