Systemic Recommendations

During the investigation of an incident by GSOC, systemic issues of policy and practice are often uncovered, even where no individual wrongdoing is found. GSOC’s role then, is to identify if there are any systemic, procedural or organisational failures, that if left uncorrected can leave unresolved risk.

Where such issues are identified, it is GSOC’s practice to issue ‘systemic recommendations’ to the Garda Commissioner. Such recommendations are made on a non-statutory basis.

Systemic recommendation reports briefly explain the circumstances that prompted the investigation, the evidence gathered, and any conclusions and recommendations that arise.

To date, in addition to issuing them to the Garda Commissioner, GSOC has published systemic recommendations in summary in its Annual Reports.

In 2022, GSOC adopted a new approach to the preparation and issue of systemic recommendations. Following issue to the Garda Commissioner, GSOC now forwards the recommendation, and any information or update arising, to:

• The Department of Justice
• The Policing Authority
• The Garda Inspectorate
• The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

The recommendations will thereafter be published, on a periodic basis, on this page.