27th May 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREENS WELCOME APPOINTMENT OF NEW GARDA COMMISSIONER

The Green Party today welcomed the appointment of the new Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy.

Green Party Justice spokesperson, Ciarán Cuffe TD, said today "I hope that the new Commissioner will bring to bear his experience at the FBI Academy and introduce the most modern crime detection and investigation methods to the Garda Siochana."

The Party also repeated its call for a Garda Ombudsman to independently
monitor the force. "The Gardai deserve our respect, but they need significant reforms if they are to be capable of responding to the needs of twenty first century Ireland," concluded Deputy Cuffe.