Madam, - Your recent coverage of the launch of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is greatly appreciated. So too, are the generally positive sentiments in your Editorial of May 10th. May I comment, however, on the Editorial's disappointment that the Northern Ireland model of a "single, powerful" ombudsman for dealing with complaints against the police has not been followed here?
Various arguments may be advanced for and against the three-person model as against one person. But there is a strongly practical argument in favour of the former in this jurisdiction.
The projected strength of An Garda Síochána is almost three times that of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The land area of this jurisdiction is approximately three times that of Northern Ireland. The population here is approximately two-and-a-half as large.
The role of the commissioners - like that of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman - is full-time and very much "hands-on". There are no fewer than 17 Commissioners in England and Wales, operating under arrangements which are broadly similar to those that apply here.
Under the legislation, each of the three Commissioners here may exercise the full functions of the commission. The three-person model is proportionate to the anticipated workload that lies ahead for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. - Yours, etc,
KIERAN FITZGERALD, Head of Communications and Research, Garda Síochána Ombudsman ommission, 150, Upper Abbey Street, Dublin 1.