asked the Minister for Justice for a return of the names of members of the Gárda Síochána against whom decisions of the Courts have been given in respect of acts of violence or threats used against any persons in Saorstát Eireann; further, to ask for the names of those members of the Gárda Síochána who have been dismissed from the force as a consequence of such decisions of the Courts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Court Decisions Against Gárdaí.
In order to give accurately the information for which the Deputy asks it would be necessary for my Department to have a search made through all the files relating to discipline in the Gárda Síochána, that is, through files relating to a force of seven thousand persons over a period of eight years. The notice given of the question was insufficient to allow of such a search being made.
When a decree is given against a Guard by a Court it must be obvious, I think, to everybody that whether disciplinary punishment is to be awarded, and, if so, whether it is to take the extreme form of dismissal or some milder form, must depend in each case on the precise facts of the case. Speaking from recollection, I am sure that the number of cases in which members of the Gárda have been dismissed as a direct result of a Court decision, such as is mentioned by the Deputy, is very small, because in the great majority of cases where such decisions have been given, the damage done was trifling or the assaults technical.
If, after considering what I have said, the Deputy cares to put down another question, I shall do my best to answer it, but I would ask him to frame his question so as to avoid any unnecessary expenditure of the time of public officials.
In view of the statement of the Minister that the number of Guards is small, may I ask him whether there is a record in the Department of such occurrences?
It would be, of course, in each man's file, but it means searching through a great number of files.
There is no record in such cases kept at headquarters?
There is no special book dealing solely with that matter.
Is there no list kept of members of the force who have been dismissed and of the reasons for their dismissal?
Each man's file will be there and the reason for his dismissal will be on that file. If you go back for eight years through these files it will mean a tremendous amount of work.
Does the Minister mean to insinuate that he has no record of the members of the Civic Guards who have been dismissed, and the reasons for their dismissal?
I do not say anything of the kind.