Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024

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Duty to keep certain persons informed

216. (1) The Police Ombudsman shall, on his or her initiative or on request by one or more of the following persons, provide such persons with sufficient information to keep them informed of the progress and results of an investigation:

(a) where the investigation resulted from a complaint, the complainant;

(b) where the investigation relates to a matter referred to in section 203 (1) concerning the death of, or serious harm to, a person, the Minister;

(c) where the investigation resulted from a request by the Minister under subsection (2) of section 205 or a referral by the Minister under subsection (3) of that section—

(i) the person who brought the subject matter of the request or referral to the attention of the Minister or on whose behalf it was brought to such attention, and

(ii) the Minister;

(d) where the investigation resulted from a referral by the Authority under section 205 (5)—

(i) the person who brought the subject matter of the referral to the attention of the Authority or on whose behalf it was so brought,

(ii) the Authority, and

(iii) the Minister;

(e) where the investigation resulted from a referral by the Garda Commissioner under section 205 (7), the Minister;

(f) where the investigation resulted from a decision under subsection (1) or (2) of section 207 , the Minister;

(g) the Garda Commissioner;

(h) where the subject matter of the investigation relates to the conduct or performance of a known member of garda personnel, that member;

(i) any other person that the Police Ombudsman considers has a sufficient interest in the matter.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to information the disclosure of which would, in the opinion of the Police Ombudsman—

(a) prejudice a criminal investigation or prosecution,

(b) jeopardise the safety of any person,

(c) be contrary to section 16 or 16A of the Act of 2014, or

(d) for any other reason not be in the public interest.