Internal Affairs comes under the remit of Assistant Commissioner Governance and Accountability and is headed by a Chief Superintendent. Internal Affairs comprises of the following sections, based at Garda Headquarters and Athlumney House, Navan, Co Meath:
- Discipline
- Complaints
- Compensations
- Gearain Office (GSOC Liaison Office, Navan).
Discipline:
The Discipline Section is responsible for oversight of all investigations undertaken by An Garda Síochána under the provisions of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007/2011 (Statutory Instrument Nos. 214 of 2007 and 620 of 2011), which came into effect on 1 June 2007 and 22 November 2011. The purpose of these regulations is to provide a code of conduct for all members of An Garda Síochána, which must be strictly adhered to. Any suspected breaches may be subject of investigation by Officers appointed pursuant to the Regulations. The penalties provided under the regulations include dismissal; reduction in rank; temporary reduction in pay; caution and advice.
Further information on Discipline:
Discipline Section is responsible for the administration of all investigations undertaken by An Garda Síochána under the provisions of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 as amended, which came into effect on 1 June 2007.
The purpose of these Regulations is to provide a code of conduct for all members of An Garda Síochána. Any suspected breaches may be subject of investigation by Officers appointed pursuant to the Regulations. The penalties provided under the Regulations include dismissal; reduction in rank; temporary reduction in pay; warning; reprimand; caution; and advice.
There are three main areas contained in the Discipline Regulations for addressing Disciplinary matters.
Options for dealing with breaches of Discipline
| Regulation 10 | Regulation 14 | Regulation 23 |
| Minor Breach | Less Serious | Serious |
|
|
|
Where a member is found in breach, Disciplinary results will be recorded in a loose-leaf folder in the district office in the case of Regulation 10 and for Regulation 14 and 23 it will be recorded on the member’s personnel file. The record will be destroyed after the expiration of three years if no further disciplinary action is recorded against the member in that period.
Complaints:
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) was established under the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, as an independent authority tasked with investigating complaints against members of An Garda Síochána.
Members of the public who are directly affected by, or witness, misconduct by a member of An Garda Síochána may make a complaint. Complaints may also be made on behalf of that member of the public, by any other person, if the member of public on whose behalf the complaint is being made consents, in writing or orally, to it being made.
Complaints may be made directly to GSOC (contact details are available at www.gardaombudsman.ie) or by stating, giving or sending it:
a) to the Garda Commissioner;
b) to any member of An Garda Síochána at a Garda Síochána Station;
c) to a member at, or above, the rank of Chief Superintendent at a place other than a Garda Síochána station.
The legislation provides that all complaints made against a member of An Garda Síochána are referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission for consideration.
On receipt of an admissible complaint, GSOC may, as it considers appropriate:
1) deal with the complaint by means of informal resolution;
2) refer the complaint to An Garda Síochána for investigation by Garda Officers, on behalf of GSOC;
This investigation may be:
a) Unsupervised
b) Supervised by a designated officer of GSOC.
3) have the complaint investigated by a designated officer of GSOC.
The relevant regulations under the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 provide strict timeframes under which such investigations are to be conducted.
Further information on Complaints:
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent statutory body, established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended and set up in 2007. GSOC’s primary responsibility is to deal with complaints made by members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána.
The Complaints Section at Internal Affairs, is responsible for the administration of complaints investigations designated by GSOC for investigation in accordance Section 94 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Supervised and Unsupervised Investigations). Where breaches of discipline are identified arising from investigations the matter is referred back to the Garda Commissioner for investigation in accordance with the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 as amended. The Complaints Section provides administrative support to the Commissioner in fulfilling functions prescribed under Part IV of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 as amended. In this regard the Complaints Section liaises with GSOC and Garda Investigating Officers on a regular basis to discuss cases and respond to queries arising.
The Complaints Section also provides the following supports:
- Presentations to promotion courses at the Garda Síochána College to enhance capability,
- Provision of briefings to Regional and Divisional staff to enhance knowledge and skills,
- Review and analysis of current Case Law,
- Ensuring compliance with agreed protocols between AGS and GSOC in respect of S94 investigations,
- Drafting internal Garda policy in respect of complaint investigations.
Compensation:
The Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 2022 repealed the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Acts 1941/45 as amended and established the legal framework for the Garda Compensation Scheme 2022. The scheme provides for compensation for personal injuries (including injuries causing death) that were maliciously inflicted on a current or former member of An Garda Síochána in the performance of their duties, or as a result of duties previously performed or merely because of their membership of An Garda Síochána at the time of the incident. The 2022 Act places certain requirements on An Garda Síochána, including the initial decision to admit applicants to the scheme and engagement with external agencies such as the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and the State Claims Agency. The new Garda Compensation Scheme 2022 will be administered by the Garda Compensation Section (CompensationSection@garda.ie) who will act as a point of contact for applicants to the new Garda Compensation Scheme 2022.
Links to the policy and procedures for the new scheme are available below.
Click here for Form 1A Injury Causing Death or Form 2A Personal Injury in Irish.
Click here for Form 1A Injury Causing Death or Form 2A Personal Injury in English.
Please note applications already approved under the previous Garda Síochána (Compensation) Acts 1941/45 as amended should direct their correspondence to hrm_compensations@garda.ie or the Department of Justice as necessary.
Compensation Payments 2017-June 2022
Gearain Office (GSOC Liaison Office, Navan).
The Gearain Office is responsible for liaising with GSOC in respect of Section 95, Section 98 and Section 102 investigations which are undertaken by GSOC. The Section is tasked with ensuring that information requests made by GSOC are adhered to within the prescribed timelines as set out in the GSOC protocols.
Function of the Gearain Office (GSOC Liaison Office)
The GSOC Liaison Office, Internal Affairs has the primary function of administrating requests for information / documentation submitted by GSOC in respect of Investigations being conducted under Section 98 (Criminal) and Section 95 (Discipline) of the Garda Síochana Act 2005, as amended. All administrative functions in respect of GSOC investigation conducted under Section 95, Section 98 and Section 102 of the Garda Síochana Act 2005, as amended are performed by this office.
Internal Affairs can be contacted at:
Internal Affairs
Garda Headquarters
Phoenix Park
Dublin 8
D08 HN3X.
Tel: +353 1 6660000