The Minister for Justice is preparing to bring proposals to Government for an independent inspectorate for the Garda Siochana, it has been learned.
Mr O'Donoghue has also instituted what is described as a "fundamental" review of management and structures in the Garda to be completed within a year.
The inspectorate proposal has arisen from recent controversies involving the Garda, and particularly what is seen as the breakdown in confidence over policing controversies in Donegal. The two-year internal Garda investigation into allegations about corruption in Donegal may lead to criminal charges.
However, the internal inquiry is understood to have come up against problems arising out of gardai refusing to co-operate with it in some instances. The Department of Justice had been considering an inquiry into affairs in Donegal under a senior legal or judicial figure.
If early progress can be made on establishing an independent inspectorate, it is possible that it could act as the investigating body into what went wrong with policing in the county.
There was also controversy in the past year over the shooting dead of a psychiatric patient, John Carthy, in Abbeylara, Co Longford, on April 20th last year. The internal Garda report into the incident completely exonerated the force.
There is also an internal investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption in policing in south Dublin. One traffic officer has been suspended, and the actions of three detectives are under investigation over allegations that a builder paid bribes to have a drink-driving offence quashed.
Planning for the inspectorate, the first independent scrutiny body for policing in this State, is understood to be well advanced. It is expected proposals will be ready for Government next month. The inspectorate will be similar to the Inspectorate of Constabulary in Britain, which is independent of the British police and the Home Office. It carries out regular inspections of practices and efficiency, and issues an annual report.
In a parallel move to the introduction of an inspectorate, the Government has directed consultants Deloitte & Touche to carry out the review and to complete a report for Government within seven months.
It is understood the intention is to examine ways of devolving powers from some of the centralised Garda units in Dublin. The terms of reference also suggest the Government may be seeking to set up formal structures for local Garda commanders to meet public representatives, along the lines suggested in the policing reforms in Northern Ireland.