A single garda ombudsman would ensure a greater degree of accountability for the force, according to a new report by the Oireachtas Justice Committee.
The document is a review of the 2005 Garda Síochána Act.
It finds that the law should be amended to change the structure of the Garda Síochána Ombudman (GSO) - so that instead of three people, there is a single ombudsman.
The committee says this would ensure "a greater degree of accountability and ensure that there is no possibility of dissenting opinions or divergence in the ombudsman's findings."
It also recommends that changes be made so that all members of the gardaí, including the commissioner, are accountable to the ombudsman.
"Amending this to make the commissioner accountable to the GSO would help ensure proper and complete oversight and accountability of An Garda Síochána", the committee concludes.
It also recommends that the GSO should have the power to conduct investigations on its own initiative, saying: "The ability of the GSO to initiate investigations and inspections would encourage An Garda Síochána to maintain more effective practices and eliminate cultures which impede this."
Committee chairman David Stanton said: "These recommendations are made with the aim of reforming GSOC into the GSO, reforming the complaints process, expanding and improving the inspection mechanisms in place, the formation of the proposed Garda authority, the training of Gardaí and addressing circumstances which may lead to complaints."
