The Taoiseach says he believes there is a case to be made for removing all appointments in the justice area from the political process. The next Garda Commissioner is to be appointed through an open competition.

But the Garda Ombudsman believes the entire system must change if there is is to be a cultural sea-change.

Simon O'Brien spoke ahead of a Dail debate on the Guerin report.

He has also conceded his office was slow to respond to Mr. Guerin in his inquiries, but they believed they were doing a 'proportionate job' in terms of the material they had to go through.

Simon O'Brien was earlier asked by Newstalk Breakfast presenter Ivan Yates if he believes the system of political appointments needs to stop.

He also called for the new Garda Commissioner to be 'amenable' to the kind of investigations we carry out', but he conceded there might be issues of State security to consider in this area.